Yes, by golly it was! Varius' very good friends! Or so he liked to call them. Honestly, if mistaking them for band members, then going on a badger or lemur or ant hunt or whatever it was and then proceeding to match make them up with ex-school friends wasn't friendship then what the hell was?

"PERNIPANTS! PLY---" he hadn't quite made up a nickname for Plymouth yet, "---MOUTH"

He ran over to them, in his usual way that could be mistaken for a Ministry worker on a few too many at the annual Christmas office party. "How are you two?" he asked, rubbing their heads simultaneously. "Are you finding your way about okay? I am doing alright, thanks for asking. Have you been talking to the portraits?" He only asked because he had overheard them talking about an older man who sounded to be somewhat of a grump which reminded him of that portrait on the seventh floor who had cussed at him.