"It's just not like him, you guys."

Laying on her back on the floor of the armor gallery, Sophie was stressing out big time. She couldn't decide who to go to with her array of problems today - Cat, Mo, Tobes, Elodie, or Culloden? - because she had concerns that included ALL of them. So she took refuge in a room where she could feel like people were listening to her, but no one really was, and at least she didn't have to confront anyone and make them sad and worried that she was sad and worried. The suits of armor were very good listeners, though.

"The Tobias Tempus I know is a care-free, happy kid. I'm s'posed to be his best friend." She huffed, rolling over onto her stomach and using her arms as a pillow for her head, frowning at the suit of armor in her line of vision. "I like making him happy and cheering him up, but before I do that, why won't he tell me what's really wrong and just OPEN UP to me for once with whatever negative feelings he has? Why does he always avoid it? Does he not trust me?" If he couldn't trust his own bestie with stuff, who DID he trust?

Hmmmm, was it lunch time yet? Fuller had a bit of a growly stomach as he wandered out of his office and into the corridor. He was wandering aimlessly, mostly just to keep his brain awake, but heading down to the great hall for some food sounded like an excellent plan. He was going to head towards the stairs, but he heard a voice down corridor.

One voice. Just one.

Now, teenage girls were a little insane, so he normally wouldn't have bothered, but he knew this voice and he was fairly certain he knew who it belonged to, which caused some mild concern. Piers followed the direction of the voice until he turned the corner into the armor gallery and found little Sophie Brown on the floor. Talking to the statues about Tobias Tempus. It sounded rather sad, didn't it. Did Toby trust Sophie?

"Have you asked him?" he asked casually, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. Just a question.

Sophie was certain that one of the suits of armor had just moved, and she sat up to eye it. Hard. Was it going to come to life? Could it answer her back? Did they possess those capabilities? Or... could it turn out that there was someone inside of one of those suits of armor?

That'd be a weird hobby, hanging out in a suit of armor during one's free time.

But then someone did speak, and Sophie's gaze shot to the doorway. Oh. Professor. "Hi, sir." She flopped back down onto her stomach pathetically, shaking her head at him. "No - I think... I think he does trust me, but he's one of those people who... doesn't want to make other people sad for any reason, and I think he knows I'll be sad for him a little if he opens up to me and tells me all that's going on with him. But I'm already sad for him now when he's not opening up to me." So why did it matter?

After a pause, Sophie pushed herself up on her elbows and gave Fuller a heartbroken look. "I'm worried about him, sir. He's... not been himself. How... what can we do to help him?"

She did look rather pathetic at the moment. But rightfully so! She was having best friend issues and that was all the reason she needed. Fuller watched her and listened closely to what she was saying about Toby. He did trust her, but he didn't want to make her sad if he opened up to her. That was quite the Hufflepuff trait, he noted in his head.

He gave her a sympathetic smile and sighed. And then he walked into the gallery, plopped right down on the floor next to Sophie and leaned on his elbows as well. It had looked comfortable, and he was right. He normally didn't do this. The charms professor pondered the Ravenclaw's question for a moment. "Maybe part of it is that he's scared." He gave Sophie a thoughtful look. "He trusts you, I can tell that. You two are great friends and you're exactly what he needs. But opening up is a very difficult and scary thing to do, and as friends all we can do is be there for him and let him take his time, and maybe he'll open up when he's ready to." He smiled encouragingly at her, even though he was rather worried about Toby. He had seen the boy look a bit 'not himself' earlier, but he hoped everything would work out.

When Fuller approached, Sophie eyed him, wondering what he was going to do, and she was pleasantly surprised when he laid by her on the floor. She giggled softly at him, but mellowed and listened to him speak with great interest, taking every word to heart. Toby being scared made sense, yeah. It was nice that Fuller could see that the two of them were such great friends, and that made her smile a bit, then she sighed in resignation as he finished.

"Yeah. Maybe." She was nodding thoughtfully, then suddenly her mood brightened and she shot him a cheeky sort of grin, leaning over to nudge him with an elbow. "And you know all about being a great best friend, don'tcha?" Heeeehehehehe. "That's how I know to trust your advice. I'm gonna take alllllllll of it to heart 'cause I wanna fall in love with my best friend, tooooooooo." HEHEHEHEEHE. She had flopped back down on her stomach and buried her face in her arms, giggling at him.

Was she worried he was gonna whack her or hex her or take all the house points from her? Naw, she didn't care. So worth it. And so precious. She adooooooored Fuller and Thompson. The coolest of the cool cats for sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by feeheeheeny

When Fuller approached, Sophie eyed him, wondering what he was going to do, and she was pleasantly surprised when he laid by her on the floor. She giggled softly at him, but mellowed and listened to him speak with great interest, taking every word to heart. Toby being scared made sense, yeah. It was nice that Fuller could see that the two of them were such great friends, and that made her smile a bit, then she sighed in resignation as he finished.

"Yeah. Maybe." She was nodding thoughtfully, then suddenly her mood brightened and she shot him a cheeky sort of grin, leaning over to nudge him with an elbow. "And you know all about being a great best friend, don'tcha?" Heeeehehehehe. "That's how I know to trust your advice. I'm gonna take alllllllll of it to heart 'cause I wanna fall in love with my best friend, tooooooooo." HEHEHEHEEHE. She had flopped back down on her stomach and buried her face in her arms, giggling at him.

Was she worried he was gonna whack her or hex her or take all the house points from her? Naw, she didn't care. So worth it. And so precious. She adooooooored Fuller and Thompson. The coolest of the cool cats for sure.

That sort of seemed to cheer her up. She was grinning now. And elbowing him. And...

Oh dear.

-___-

Piers stared at her a moment before he just let out a laugh because he couldn't HELP it. How was he even supposed to reply to that? Sophie wouldn't believe him if he tried to deny it. She was a smart girl and she knew him and Javy TOO well. So instead of denying it or threatening to take house points from her for sticking her nose in his private life, Fuller just (gently) elbowed her right back. "Don't you go saying that all around school," he said, neither confirming NOR denying that he was in love with his best friend. NOT TELLING.

Heeeeeeeeheheheheehe. Sophie was still giggling as Fuller nudged her and she raised her head to give him a cheeky grin again. She was glad he wasn't mad - but how could he be? She was just being truthful, after all, and really, shouldn't he be honored that she just declared she wanted to be like him? Follow his lead and go woo her best friend?

Hehehehe.

"I won't. S'not like it's a secret to anyone, though, 'cause of whoever had a big mouth to that dumb Aparecium thing." Just sayin'. "You two are so nice, though. M'really happy for you." Her expression became serious, then, and she leaned toward Fuller to whisper like it was the most exciting of secrets, "Y'should let Tobes and I be your flower girl and ring bearer." BEST IDEA EVER, RIGHT? WAS HE PSYCHED?

Quote:

Originally Posted by feeheeheeny

Heeeeeeeeheheheheehe. Sophie was still giggling as Fuller nudged her and she raised her head to give him a cheeky grin again. She was glad he wasn't mad - but how could he be? She was just being truthful, after all, and really, shouldn't he be honored that she just declared she wanted to be like him? Follow his lead and go woo her best friend?

Hehehehe.

"I won't. S'not like it's a secret to anyone, though, 'cause of whoever had a big mouth to that dumb Aparecium thing." Just sayin'. "You two are so nice, though. M'really happy for you." Her expression became serious, then, and she leaned toward Fuller to whisper like it was the most exciting of secrets, "Y'should let Tobes and I be your flower girl and ring bearer." BEST IDEA EVER, RIGHT? WAS HE PSYCHED?

SIGH. She was right, it wasn't really a secret, thanks to whoever spied and leaked it to the Aparecium. "No, but not everyone reads that. And not everyone who reads it believes that rubbish." Even if sometimes it wasn't actually rubbish. Eh. He had HOPE, okay, that maybe his relationship privacy was still partially intact. He did find it rather adorable, though, that she apparently looked up to him and Javy.

Fuller raised his eyebrow when she started to tell him something in a hush hush tone... Oh, Merlin. This child. Pier laughed again, this time louder, before rolling away from her and sitting up. Hahah. Hahahahah. "Well, I'll let you know if we ever need one." They weren't getting MARRIED, jeeeeeeez. Jeez. Jeez.

"I don't read it after they wrote something about me and Tobes last term, but this particular gossip spread like wildfire by mouth. Don't think I've ever heard people so interested in something it said before." That should make him feel special, obviously. What an honor to be hot gossip. Heh.

"I think it helps that everyone wants to believe it, too. Even if it wasn't - if it's 'not,'" she used her fingers to make air quotation marks around the word, "true, you two seem to be unanimously everyone's favorites. The girls love lookin' at ya, the guys envy you for charming the hearts of their girls and wanna be as suave as you - must be nice." She was sort of teasing, but there was also a lot of truth to her words, so Sophie just shrugged casually and grinned at him.

She was totally smug with his reaction to her insinuation of their marriage, and she sat up, too, crossing her legs pretzel-style. "Excellent. Y'know where to find us." She could see it now - a nice summer wedding by the pool, Pavy and Tobes in handsome tuxedos and herself in a dainty sundress... all the men's closest family and friends... everyone crying over the beauty of lifelong best friends tying the knot...

How could they not want that? Hehehe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by feeheeheeny

"I don't read it after they wrote something about me and Tobes last term, but this particular gossip spread like wildfire by mouth. Don't think I've ever heard people so interested in something it said before." That should make him feel special, obviously. What an honor to be hot gossip. Heh.

"I think it helps that everyone wants to believe it, too. Even if it wasn't - if it's 'not,'" she used her fingers to make air quotation marks around the word, "true, you two seem to be unanimously everyone's favorites. The girls love lookin' at ya, the guys envy you for charming the hearts of their girls and wanna be as suave as you - must be nice." She was sort of teasing, but there was also a lot of truth to her words, so Sophie just shrugged casually and grinned at him.

She was totally smug with his reaction to her insinuation of their marriage, and she sat up, too, crossing her legs pretzel-style. "Excellent. Y'know where to find us." She could see it now - a nice summer wedding by the pool, Pavy and Tobes in handsome tuxedos and herself in a dainty sundress... all the men's closest family and friends... everyone crying over the beauty of lifelong best friends tying the knot...

How could they not want that? Hehehe.

Well, Piers didn't read it either, so he didn't know anything about whatever gossip was said about Sophie and Toby. He had only caught wind of the gossip pertaining to him and Javy, so naturally, he was curious. He just chuckled and shook his head at what she said, that people were so interested in what it said about them.

And then she kept going oonn and on about blah blah blah. Merlin's beard, he was gonna make him blush LAUGH some more. "Okay, okay," he laughed, cutting her off at SUAVE. He reached forward and pushed her shoulder, that teasing girl. "You're embarrassing me," he admitted. Aw man, he'd have to tell Javy about this.

Okay, but he was curious, so he leaned forward and in a hush-hush tone asked, "Do people really actually want to believe it?" Or was it just HER? Just curious.

Sophie was as SMUG AS COULD BE. "Awwwwwww." She didn't know Fuller could get embarrassed. How endearing. "That's cuuuuuute," she cooed, tempted to reach up and ruffle his hair as if he was a child or a puppy, but she resisted - barely, since her hand had started to raise a little, but she played it cool and casually brushed it through her hair instead. Hehe.

Merlin. He was precious, wasn't he? Like a teenager in love. Returning the hush-hush tone for his sake, Soph grinned, "'Course they do. Why would anyone object? You guys are the hottest couple at this school since... since..." well, she didn't even know, "forever. If, y'know, the rumors are truuuue." Since they were being all hypothetical and all. Hehe. "I hope Tobes and I grow up to be as cute as you guys some day," she added, her tone teasing to match the cheeky grin that had spread across her face once more.

She still wasn't fibbing, though. It was all true.

Quote:

Originally Posted by feeheeheeny

Sophie was as SMUG AS COULD BE. "Awwwwwww." She didn't know Fuller could get embarrassed. How endearing. "That's cuuuuuute," she cooed, tempted to reach up and ruffle his hair as if he was a child or a puppy, but she resisted - barely, since her hand had started to raise a little, but she played it cool and casually brushed it through her hair instead. Hehe.

Merlin. He was precious, wasn't he? Like a teenager in love. Returning the hush-hush tone for his sake, Soph grinned, "'Course they do. Why would anyone object? You guys are the hottest couple at this school since... since..." well, she didn't even know, "forever. If, y'know, the rumors are truuuue." Since they were being all hypothetical and all. Hehe. "I hope Tobes and I grow up to be as cute as you guys some day," she added, her tone teasing to match the cheeky grin that had spread across her face once more.

She still wasn't fibbing, though. It was all true.

U____U

Why did he let her talk about these things? Why did he let himSELF talk about these things? Why was Sophie, who was like TWELVE, so easy to talk to? He felt like a teenager now and THAT needed to stop. But he couldn't stop laughing. Did she just call him and his boyfriend hot? Hahah. He laughed again. Fuller was still neither confirming nor denying the truth of her assumptions and the gossip.

OPPORTUNE SUBJECT CHANGE.

"Ooohh, you and Toby, eh? You got a little crush?" He grinned. She SO DID. Couldn't deny it now, little Brown!

Pffffffffff. "Nice subject there, champ." Soph rolled her eyes playfully, leaning back on her hands and sighing as if the subject was entirely uninteresting to her. "Tobes is my best friend in the whole world, sir. We're like... friendship soulmates. And we're just kids right now -" she kept saying that, but really, they were growing up, "- but of course I like him. S'not a crush." In her mind, a crush was more of a childish admiration from afar where it wasn't necessarily reciprocated.

Didn't Toby reciprocate it?

"Can't blame me, though, can you? He's a great guy. Probably your favorite student and neighbor of all time, am I right?" Hmmm? HM? Wasn't she?

How could he not be? Tobes was the best.

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Originally Posted by feeheeheeny

Pffffffffff. "Nice subject there, champ." Soph rolled her eyes playfully, leaning back on her hands and sighing as if the subject was entirely uninteresting to her. "Tobes is my best friend in the whole world, sir. We're like... friendship soulmates. And we're just kids right now -" she kept saying that, but really, they were growing up, "- but of course I like him. S'not a crush." In her mind, a crush was more of a childish admiration from afar where it wasn't necessarily reciprocated.

Didn't Toby reciprocate it?

"Can't blame me, though, can you? He's a great guy. Probably your favorite student and neighbor of all time, am I right?" Hmmm? HM? Wasn't she?

How could he not be? Tobes was the best.

Champ. Heheh. Yes, he was.

Friendship soulmates. You know, now that she was talking about it, they did kind of sound like him and Javy. Best friends for life and then... well, she knew. And it wasn't just a crush, apparently. "Well, it sounds like you two are coming up at a close second place for cutest couple," he teased. He realized then that he didn't really know what to say when teenagers talked about the people they liked. Good thing he didn't have kids yet.

Fuller snorted. "I don't pick favorites, Miss Brown." Cross his heart. And then uncross it because it might be a lie. "But he is quite the good neighbor, when he doesn't run over Javy's flower pots with his skateboard." Or crash into parked cars or wake him up with the sound of a skateboard grinding on the sidewalk. Yeah, other than that, he was good.

HEHEHEHEH. That was sweet of him to say. "If we were a couple, maybe. But we're not." No matter how much she might want to be, she was going to let him make that first move. She had no qualms about initiating it and being the brave one for both of them to ask about them taking the next step - but she felt it was important that Tobes did it. All on his own. It was too predictable for her to do it, since she was the one who started their friendship in the first place. And then initiated their best friendship, too. It was totally his turn.

Fuller didn't pick favorites? Yeah right.

"You're just saying that 'cause you're a professor and you're supposed to say that. Culloden breaks that rule, though, and he's said I'm his favorite, so if he can admit it, you and 'Javy,'" she smirked, "can admit that there's a special place in your heart for me and Tobes, too." Soph offered Fuller another cheeky grin and raised her hands in defense, "And I won't tell anyone. Really." Hehehe.

She looked pensive for a moment, then added as an afterthought, "For the record, Tobes wouldn't terrorize those flower pots if he didn't love you guys." Uh huh. Totally an act of respect and admiration.

Quote:

Originally Posted by feeheeheeny

HEHEHEHEH. That was sweet of him to say. "If we were a couple, maybe. But we're not." No matter how much she might want to be, she was going to let him make that first move. She had no qualms about initiating it and being the brave one for both of them to ask about them taking the next step - but she felt it was important that Tobes did it. All on his own. It was too predictable for her to do it, since she was the one who started their friendship in the first place. And then initiated their best friendship, too. It was totally his turn.

Fuller didn't pick favorites? Yeah right.

"You're just saying that 'cause you're a professor and you're supposed to say that. Culloden breaks that rule, though, and he's said I'm his favorite, so if he can admit it, you and 'Javy,'" she smirked, "can admit that there's a special place in your heart for me and Tobes, too." Soph offered Fuller another cheeky grin and raised her hands in defense, "And I won't tell anyone. Really." Hehehe.

She looked pensive for a moment, then added as an afterthought, "For the record, Tobes wouldn't terrorize those flower pots if he didn't love you guys." Uh huh. Totally an act of respect and admiration.

If they were a couple. Fuller smiled. "You never know, it could happen." They were still young though. And they had a friendship that looked like it would last forever, so it really could happen. It happened to him, after all. BUT, "You're still young," he said, pointing a finger at her. "You don't need a boyfriend." She was like, twelve. Twelve year olds didn't need boyfriends.

Culloden picked favorites, did he? Hahah. "Oi, that's Professor Thompson to you, missy," he said in his SRS!PROF!VOICE. But it was TRUE, they did have soft spots in their grumpy professor hearts for those two kids. They let them eat their FOOD, after all. "And I'm not admitting anything." But she totally knew. He couldn't deny that either.

At her last comment, Fuller snorted out a laugh. "Well, that's certainly good to know. I don't think that makes up for flowers' hurt feelings, though." Naahhh, he was teasing. He'd just make Toby clean and fix them up if he ever did it again. ]

Could happen, buuuuut... who knew? They WERE still young. But. Still. It didn't stop her from wanting Tobes to be her first and only boyfriend. "Yeah. Maybe you're right." Or maybe he was horribly wrong - there were plenty of students her age who were in relationships already. Younger, even. Sometimes, especially when seeing Cat and Mo together, Sophie couldn't help but feel like she was missing out.

She snickered at his scolding, though. Did he know it was hard to take him seriously? "You said it fiiiirst," she grinned big, crossing her arms smugly. "Whatever. You love us." And she'd leave it at that because obviously she was right and he couldn't even argue.

The flowers' hurt feelings? It was Sophie's turn to snort and she shook her head, giggling at him, "You're so dumb." Term of endearment. And then she paused. "Okay, so... my game plan is... to just keep being his friend and let him know I'm there for him? And you're going to..." she gave him a questioning sort of look, "...look out for him, too, yeah? Be like his long lost dad or cool uncle or something?" She thought Tobes needed a strong male role model in his life and he'd fit the bill for that nicely. .

Quote:

Originally Posted by feeheeheeny

Could happen, buuuuut... who knew? They WERE still young. But. Still. It didn't stop her from wanting Tobes to be her first and only boyfriend. "Yeah. Maybe you're right." Or maybe he was horribly wrong - there were plenty of students her age who were in relationships already. Younger, even. Sometimes, especially when seeing Cat and Mo together, Sophie couldn't help but feel like she was missing out.

She snickered at his scolding, though. Did he know it was hard to take him seriously? "You said it fiiiirst," she grinned big, crossing her arms smugly. "Whatever. You love us." And she'd leave it at that because obviously she was right and he couldn't even argue.

The flowers' hurt feelings? It was Sophie's turn to snort and she shook her head, giggling at him, "You're so dumb." Term of endearment. And then she paused. "Okay, so... my game plan is... to just keep being his friend and let him know I'm there for him? And you're going to..." she gave him a questioning sort of look, "...look out for him, too, yeah? Be like his long lost dad or cool uncle or something?" She thought Tobes needed a strong male role model in his life and he'd fit the bill for that nicely. .

MAYBE he was right? Pfft. "I'm always right. You'd do well to remember that." Just saying. He grinned. He was teasing, but he did hope that Sophie didn't feel like she needed to be in a relationship. Though, she did seem to like Toby a lot and she was a smart girl, so he wasn't really to worried.

"I'm allowed to say it," he pointed out. Sigh. Why did he even try? Sophie Brown was something else.

Did she just call him DUMB? Fuller scoffed, mildly surprised that she felt so comfortable around him. Enough to call him DUMB. "Oi, you watch your mouth, missy. I can throw you in detention anytime I want." Yeah, rawr, look at him being all mean and Slytherin-y.

Hah.

Back to the topic of Sophie, Fuller's face softened and he nodded. "Of course I'll look out for him. Javy -- Professor Thompson and I will stop by during the holiday. At least once." And they'd make him food and give him presents and stuff. He'd be taken care of quite well.

"Pff." Sophie was scoffing at his declaration of always being right, but it was in good humor, and she gave him a knowing sort of grin. "Yeah, yeah." He was a professor, so of course she had to comply with that logic.

He was allowed to say it, yeah, sure, but it felt like the equivalent of when her mum referred to her father as "Kieran" rather than "Dad" when talking to her. It always made an eyebrow quirk up, because her dad wasn't Kieran - he was Dad. She didn't communicate this to Fuller, though, and instead sighed, letting out a sassy sort of, "Mmmmmmmmhmm." Sure, sir. Sure.

Ooooooooo, the threat of DETENTION. At first, Sophie started to laugh as she instinctively thought he was joking, but upon looking at him, she was surprised that he seemed serious - would he really throw her in detention for joking around with him? Hmm. Well. Maybe, since he wasn't smiling and he did seem to be serious. Well, then. She wouldn't be teasing him anymore. "Sorry, sir." Sophie's whole demeanor had mellowed considerably, but she tried not to look like a wounded puppy as she pressed on, "You're not actually dumb." Just so he knew, yeah? Putting back up that defined wall between professor and student and making certain that there'd be a clean slate?

Nodding, she sat up straighter and extended a hand for him to shake as if they were sealing a deal. All professional-like and stuff. "Thanks, sir. M'glad he has you two to look out for him - I really think he needs some... y'know, adult role models like you guys." They were good father figures for him.

Sass.

There was so much sass.

Except that detention threat managed to cut it. Heh. She even apologized. He let the SERIOUSNESS sink into her Ravenclaw brain for a minute before he couldn't hold back his laughter. He snorted and reached forward to POKE her forehead. It was not physically possible for Fuller to be mean to Sophie Brown. Even if she called him dumb.

Fuller shook her hand. It was a deal. Not that they really had to shake on it. Toby was a good kid and Fuller worried about him sometimes, so he would do what he said and make sure he was always okay. "I'm glad he has a friend like you," he replied with a small smile.

A moment later, he pushed up on his feet and stood up. His butt was getting numb from sitting on the floor. "Come on kid, you're making me miss lunch." He held his hand out for Sophie if she needed some help getting off the floor. "And I might actually give you detention for that." HAH.

Wait. Time out. He laughed? Sophie blinked once, her face blank as she processed what was happening - then she let out a sigh of relief she didn't know she was holding in and smiled, shoving at him gently in retaliation to his poke to her forehead. Har, har. So funny, preying on the guilty conscience of a third year.

She loved it, though.

HAND-SHAKING. Sophie felt official and proper at that and made sure it was a good, strong handshake, so she clasped her other hand around the back of his as they shook and essentially gave his hand a nice hand-hug. "Me too. I'm glad he has us." She beamed at Fuller, then, and accepted his hand to stand up, not because she needed it - she was moreso trying to be polite and make him feel good, like he had some purpose in life. Heeeehehehehe. "I didn't make you stop off here, y'know." The detention threat didn't bother her this time - on the contrary, she purposely and playfully bumped into him a little as she made her way past him for the door. "Y'just couldn't resist a chat with one of your favorites, I know. S'my charm." Beeeeam.

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Originally Posted by feeheeheeny

Wait. Time out. He laughed? Sophie blinked once, her face blank as she processed what was happening - then she let out a sigh of relief she didn't know she was holding in and smiled, shoving at him gently in retaliation to his poke to her forehead. Har, har. So funny, preying on the guilty conscience of a third year.

She loved it, though.

HAND-SHAKING. Sophie felt official and proper at that and made sure it was a good, strong handshake, so she clasped her other hand around the back of his as they shook and essentially gave his hand a nice hand-hug. "Me too. I'm glad he has us." She beamed at Fuller, then, and accepted his hand to stand up, not because she needed it - she was moreso trying to be polite and make him feel good, like he had some purpose in life. Heeeehehehehe. "I didn't make you stop off here, y'know." The detention threat didn't bother her this time - on the contrary, she purposely and playfully bumped into him a little as she made her way past him for the door. "Y'just couldn't resist a chat with one of your favorites, I know. S'my charm." Beeeeam.

Well, that was a mighty fine handshake. This had been a good talk. He was glad he just so happened to hear Sophie talking to herself -- or the armour -- on his way down the corridor. Now he knew just what to to for Toby while they were on holiday.

"I know," he responded, straightening out his dress shirt. "But you were talking to yourself. Had to make sure one of my favorite students wasn't going mad." THERE, he said it. Now she was never going to let him live it down. Not that she wouldn't have anyway.

Fuller prodded her shoulder with his hand to make her go towards the door. "Oi, keep walking, sassy. I don't make idle threats when I'm hungry." So maybe he WOULD give her detention. Uh huh.

"I wasn't talking to myself," Sophie grinned at him, shaking her head. "These suits of armor are great listeners and confidants." DID HE JUST CALL HER A FAVORITE? Haaaaa! "Knew it." After a pause, she added, sounding entirely too sarcastic but meaning it, "I guess you're better than the suits were, anyway." For the record. He gave good advice, too, which the suits had never done. Maybe some day.

She snorted, then. Sassy. "Yeah, yeah," she complied, not at all taking him seriously as she led the way out of the room.

Merlin. Men and their stomachs.

The fact that it was now spring, as Charlie had marked on her calendar before falling asleep last night, meant that people should be outside. The fact that Hogwarts was practically surrounded by its own personal ice age meant that they weren't. Charlie wanted to be outside. Or to have everyone else outside, so that the castle was quieter. She wanted to speak to Tristan but since the owls had flown away, she'd accepted that that wasn't going to happen.

Instead, she wandered the corridors, searching for somewhere reasonably quiet where she could read. The common room had become overcrowded. She had a blanket in her bag just in case.

Slipping into the empty gallery, she found an empty corner sat down on the floor, legs curled up underneath her.