Tamsin smiled at Drew. "You already did, those flowers we got her made her very happy and that was all I wanted to give her before she left." Her hand caressed Drew's hair softly. "There is nothing anyone can do, when we are gone there is no return."

“Thank ya, Ma’am,” he said slightly muffled from Merlin’s sleeve. “I-I doubt I’d be cool enough.”

Magnus laughed, “Well a good portion of me friends are Slytherins.” He looked at Tamsin with sad eyes. "I'm sorry." He gave her another hug.

Niall didn’t know what was going on but he understood what Tamsin said. When the other boys were done, the shy little boy slipped out from behind Merlin and hugged the woman—which was something he had never done before. “I’m sorry Ma’am. My Mam passed too.” He broke from his hug but lingered near her.

Drew swallowed hard before speaking quietly, "I'm glad we were able to get them and she saw them and was happy." On their first meeting he never would have guessed that Tamsin would be gentle but he felt he knew the real person now and was glad that he did. He gave her a little smile at the soft touch on his longish hair.

"I'm sure you are more than cool Niall. Still no matter the house you get picked on, you are cool." Tamsin smiled at him and nods.

"I totally agree!" Merlin touched his hair softly. "I think you are very cool."

Tamsin made a happy expression when Magnus said most his friends were snakes.

When Niall hugged her, her tears wouldn't stop falling. "I'm sorry guys, I shouldn't have come. You are supposed to be having fun, don't want to gloom this day." She then looks at Niall. "I'm really sorry you lost your mom, it shouldn't happen to the young ones." She hugged him again. "Maybe you'll get adopted one day, like Magnus and have a new family, if not I am sure you will find family at Hogwarts."

[Edit] "I'm forever grateful for the help you all gave me."

Something about seeing Tamsin cry had Drew's heart aching even more. He longed to help but didn't really know how. He looked away, his own eyes a bit misty and as Niall stepped back he put an arm around the younger boy's shoulders and gave him a squeeze. "You're going to have family here for sure, Niall," he promised. "And there's someone out there who would love a son like you. You'll find each other. I just know it."

The young Irish boy shrugged. He couldn’t think of anything to say and shyly moved away a little, his gaze at the ground far more than before. “Everyone’s been very nice.” Niall stepped further back when Drew let go. “Yeah…” he said, “right.”

“Why don’t you come with us and ‘elp us buy our pets, Tamsin?” Magnus asked. Surely that would be cheerful, they could come back to the bookshop afterwards.

Tamsin was now calmer. "I guess the butterbeer would be another day, I figured you would come to a bookstore Merls, so I waited here to try my luck. I forgot about the puffs entirely, I guess my gut brought me to you guys anyway." She flick her fingers and gave them each a lolli pop, one for Drew, Magnus, Merlin, Niall, and Lena. "It's my favorite flavor, watermelon so I hope you all like. Maybe next time we can talk more and have a more cheerful encounter." She was about to leave when she suddenly asked. "Did you tell your mom Merlin? Did you sent the papers?"

Merlin blushed. "I haven't finished filling the papers and I haven't told my mom yet. I will on the break."

"Send them soon, or I will come get them." Once again her departure was hold on by Magnus. "Pets huh? You know, maybe I can get one for my uncle! It may cheer him a bit, I know you can't replace a human with a pet but a pet can give you lots of love and company." She smiled at Magnus. "Alright, count me in, but we must go now!"

[Edit] ((Going to sleep, if you keep going drag or or something))

Magnus took the lollipop and smiled with a thank you. "'Ey Tams, I 'eard Paul's family 'as been forcing you over to dinners... and the girls 'ave done some cute drawings of what they think Bee Guy looks like. Been 'aving fun there?" He smirked. Paul altered a few things in the children's story.

Niall thanked Tamsin shyly. She seemed really cool. “Maybe get him a cat?” the little boy offered. “They are soothing and they don’t need a lot of work. Or a Golden Snidget maybe? Did you know they rotate their wings and used to be the snitch—but they are so fragile that grabbing them in the air hurt them so they invented the snitch.” Niall’s hands slipped into his pockets as he shyly looked back to the ground after having said so much.

Drew sighed and stepped back as well after hugging Niall. He'd done it again, the boy thought. He was too demonstrative for most people and he'd made Niall uncomfortable. Biting his lip, he looked down. When Magnus mentioned pets, he gave a little smile and nodded.

When Tamsin gave them all lollipops Drew thanked her. He listened to Magnus telling about Paul and his family. He'd wondered how the other auror was doing. Niall's comments showed just how smart the younger boy was and Drew was a bit impressed. He waited quietly for the others to led the way to the pet store since they knew Hogsmeade better.

[edit] ((night, Merlin! Sleep well!))

((Niall is too cute! Last reply before I fall asleep))

Tamsin rolled her eyes. "They have been great but the bee guy story was extremely altered by Paul and the girls think he is even scary, which he wasn't but he doesn't want to look bad in front of them since he was captured by him." She then remembers something. "Speaking of drawings, my mom loved the one you made her, she wouldn't stop looking at it. She had it in her hands when she passed. Thank you."

She nods to Niall and smiles. "You are a very smart guy, I think a cat will be best for him. Thank you so much."

(thanks XD Sleep well)

Magnus snickered, "Well Bee Guy turned into a bee and they are now keeping him in a secure honey comb too, so yeah its more o' a bedtime story with like two real facts." He smiled. “I’m glad she liked it and Drew ‘ad thought of it.”

Niall blushed but didn’t say anything.

Magnus smiled and led them to the pet store. “Don’t worry,” he said to Drew quietly, “’E probly ain’t used to being touched… like Eros. It’ll get better for ‘im, once ‘e gets used to it.”

Drew went along with the others, including Lena who trailed after them. He looked over at Magnus and gave his friend a little nod. "Yeah, I know. I just didn't think." He sighed. "I'm used to it with my family but I sometimes forget that not everyone is used to it or likes it. I didn't mean to make him uncomfortable."

"Everything seems to make 'im uncomfortable," Magnus said. "Don't worry. A pet'll make everything better. Then we can 'ead over to the Neep."

They all arrived at the pet shop with the tinkle of the shop's bell. Niall's eyes went wide, taking in the scene. From his look he wasn't sure where to start.

"Pets do tend to do that," Drew nodded with a smile as he thought of Dodger waiting for him back in his room. And though Fleet wasn't a small pet, he was anxious to see his horse again during the break.

As they entered the pet store, he looked around as well, seeing both familiar and unfamiliar creatures.

Niall started looking around slowly. Several cats started following the little boy

Magnus hadn't seen the mice or pygmy puffs yet but he was looking for them as he petted an owl in passing.

(and anyone else interested)

Drew wandered the shop, bypassing the toads with scarcely a glance. He paused at the tank with the orange snails but knew they were not a good selection for a pet due to their poison. He turned and spotted Niall and all the cats and grinned. "I think you found some friends, Niall," he commented. He had to admit, the black kitten was adorable.

Niall was grinning from ear to ear looking at all the pets when Drew mentioned the "friends." The little boy didn't seem so painfully shy as he reached up to pet one. "I was hoping Miss Tamsin would like one of these. Makes finding them easier I guess." He looked at Tamsin. "Whatcha think?"

Magnus was looking at some jumping fish now.

"I don't see how she could help but like them," Drew smiled as one cat batted lightly at Niall's leg and meowed. He was glad it wasn't him trying to decide which one to take home. There was a good chance all of them would have made their way to the manor if it had been up to the animal loving Drew.

He looked up at the rustle of wings overhead and saw a raven looking down at him. "I bet Mum would like you," he said quietly to the bird, thinking of how his mother had been a Ravenclaw and also how she'd always called Drew little raven because of his hair...thankfully she didn't do it in public anymore! The raven cocked his head and hopped along a beam, following Drew as he walked further into the store.

Niall nodded. "They are really cute." He'd take the entire store if he could most likely.

"Ooh the raven is really pretty," Magnus said, "you should quote it." Okay bad joke but hey Magnus loved puns.

Drew chuckled at Magnus' comment and cleared his throat dramatically. "Once upon a midnight dreary..." he began and made it as far as the first 'nevermore' before the giggles took over and he gave up. He looked around and saw several people looking at him, not to mention the raven who chose that moment to fly down to his shoulder and peck at his hair. "Okay okay...I'll stop now," the boy said.