“Oh that’s awesome Sam, congrats on being made Prefect!” () He grinned and admired her badge, quietly wishing he had earned high enough marks to be considered. But when he stopped to think about it, the only thing he was really jealous of was their bathroom.

Fade blushed slightly at the mention of Unicorn week. But to his credit he had been practicing his abilities and his hair only turned yellowish, instead of bright red to give away his full embarrassment on the subject. Thankfully the tension was broken when Magnus () became terribly embarrassed himself, about explaining how to tell the sex of the Nifflers. Fade giggled and noted that his was also a female.

As it was time to put away their small dirty friends, Fade gathered the three bits of coin his had dug up and jingled them toward the designated Niffler receptacle. Very alert, his own Niffler followed precisely and dove after the one coin Fade flipped into the cage for it. Leaning over he latched the door and gave it another as a reward for a job well done. “Thank’s little guy, you did great.” He said before straightening up and going to gather his sketchbook.

He hadn’t meant to, but Fade overheard Aria () telling Magnus a bit about how her mom ignored magic while she was growing up. It really hit home and Fade found that he felt better sitting down. Finding a spot in the grass not far from the group he flipped open his sketchbook and began to make rough gesture drawings of the Unicorns as they entertained the club. He knew that he shouldn’t approach them, because he smelled very much like a man smelled, and therefor would make them nervous. But if Magnus could convince them to come out, hope welled up in Fade’s heart that maybe even he would be able to touch one some day. He had been all too nervous to try and pet one while on Gaia’s farm, even though she insisted they wouldn’t mind at all. But having seen so many in such a short amount of time really lifted his spirits. It really was like Aria had said, a dream come true.

Glancing up he noticed a new face () looking his way and blushed slightly, half closing his sketchbook to protect his unfinished and therefore terrible art from prying eyes. “Hey, you’re new to the club right? I’m Fade.” He grinned away his blush and extended a hand from his seat in the grass.

((Long post is long. Sorry I jibber-jabber so much! lol))

Millie stood there enchanted by the unicorns. She almost didn't hear Aderyn () ask if she wanted to keep on as a pet. "They are spectacular. I wish I could have one but I don't know where to keep it. I live in a townhouse in London" MiIllie giggled. "I don't know anyone could hurt these stunning creatures. Any animal at that."

((I don't think you can be a prefect until your fifth year, ))

Katsumi nodded politely to Magnus, though she did not return his grin. "Nice to meet you," she replied. "I'm Katsumi, a Ravenclaw." They did not have time for further conversation as another club member started crying, and the captain was off to check on her. Katsume didn't mind, and instead turned to regard the unicorns. The creatures were lovely, moving with such grace. Most of the students went to flock around them, but not everyone.

One of those that stayed back was a fellow Ravenclaw, a boy in her year. He blushed when he saw her looking, and closed the book he'd been drawing in. She accepted the offered hand, giving it a firm shake. "Katsumi," she replied, though her expression remained impassive. She glanced over at the unicorns again. "You don't want to take a closer look?"

Ah, he thought. It was tears of joy. "Glad ya get ta see 'em then. Felt much the same when I got a mum an' Dad." He was hugged and knew his eyes bugged out a little at the unexpected embrace. He patted her shoulder awkwardly. "Yeah," he said, "their great." Personally he could give or take them. Sam was nearby petting one of the babies. "Dunno, ta be honest, Sam." He never really thought to ask what males were called. "Just call 'em unicorns meself. I can look it up though, if ya want."

Fade spent some of the holiday with Magnus. It also sped the time he was forced to spend with his over-enthusiastic Grandparents whom whilst he was liking a lot kept pinching his cheeks and fawning over him. The attention was a bit too much for the boy. Bartleby Lee, a very tall and intimidating looking wizard was loving having the extra child too. He and Magnus went to pick Fade up easily enough from Gaia's place in Ireland. Hopefully the broad grin helped. He knew people where scared of him being an Unspeakable and all. Magnus' mum Stella was mid hight and just as easy to get along with. She kept trying to get Fade to eat extra helpings and baking them all kinds of food. "I can't send you back to your mum or Hogwarts thinner than you came!" She'd often say. As nice as she was, Magnus was right, she played Qudditch dirty--knocking everyone out of the way as she zoomed to score. Even the House Elf, Mimsy seemed to really enjoy having extra company and work. She bowed deeply every time she saw Fade and asked if he wanted things.

The garden gnomes had fun playing with the cats too. And all the games they played in the drawing room by the fireplace made things even better. They'd also drew a lot together. Magnus even got to meet his mother who came round for tea one day, bringing round 20 pairs of underwear for him. Despite that embarrassment on Fade's behalf it had been a fantastic holiday.

So Magnus was far more embolden with his friend than he would've been before. Nodding back at Katsumi, he stood beside Fade. "Come on, mate," he said practically pulling the boy towards the adult. "If she will let me, a boy and werewolf pet 'er, you can." They arrived at the paddock and he touched the female with no problems. "See now, they ain't so bad. Give 'er a pet." Magnus' hand twitched a little as if he was resisting the urge to pull the boy's hand and make him pet it. Aderyn and Emmy were already petting the mare. Millie wasn't petting one yet, but he promised himself he'd make Fade pet them before he went to encourage the others.

Katsumi watched the enthusiastic head of the club all but drag her housemate over to the mare. She didn't quite smile, but her eyes sparkled with amusement as she tagged along. "He's right, you know," she told Fade. "And if you're truly concerned about spooking her, my understanding is that the foals are not nearly so leery of males as their parents. Correct, Magnus?"

The girl held out a hand to the unicorn, letting it sniff her hand before she ventured a try at touching the mare. The contact sent a slight thrill through her. Truly this was an amazing opportunity.

Aderyn laughed as Emmy commented about winning the next time they competed in the club.

"You're right, of course; but I'll beat you in potions!"

Walking over toward the unicorn paddocks, Aderyn's eyes grew wide and her attention was rapt as she watched the golden foals move around their enclosure. She'd never seen a unicorn up close before as they didn't inhabit the forests near her home town and she was completely awed at them. She approached the paddock with the foals very slowly and with her arm outstretched, waiting for one of the foals to approach her.

Aderyn nodded as Millie spoke.

"Anyone who would hurt an animal must be pure evil. They're so innocent; nothing but loving creatures acting on instinct."

As Emmy's voice registered in her head, she realized the other girl was calling her over to the other, smaller paddock containing the adult unicorn. Looking at the majestic creature, she slowly crept closer, She reached out, gently running her fingertips over the mare's cheek, gasping as the unicorn tossed her head. Looking around, she waved to Magnus.

"What do they like to eat as a treat?"

"It is true, the infants don't mind either gender. 'Owever, the adult I got on loan don't mind males so much. She is around 'em every day." Magnus' eyes flashed angerly. "People can be cruel, selfish and sometimes plain evil. There are people who want to 'ave all werewolves killed regardless of if they've done anything wrong or not." He closed his eyes, forcing himself to calm down. With a sigh he opened his eyes again and said, "All we can do is try to 'elp educate people on the ways to care for creatures and why they are important. As for unicorns, they are almost impossible to catch and hard to 'urt which is good." Then he pulled a flower from his pocket and handed it to Aderyn. "They like flowers that grow near waterfalls, like this one... an' fruit. Got some apples in me pack if ya wanna feed them some 'o 'em."

Watching the unicorns with a sense of awe. Rowan is pleased to see Paddy, and Drifter wags happily at her.

"He's pretty used to all the creatures now," she calls back in answer to Paddy's question, "except he's developed a little aversion to mysterious squirrels. Don't know why."

"Thanks," Paddy replied to Magnus (), "I haven't met many different magical creatures yet, so I'm still surprised when they're accepting of me."

She waited for everyone else to approach the unicorn first, taking her time in case it was uncertain about her. "That's a strange thing for Drifter to take a dislike to, Rowan ()," she said thoughtfully, one eye on the unicorns, "maybe he'd like to meet my new puppy Snowden one evening, and see how they get on? As long as she doesn't teach Drifter any bad habits of course," she added with a grin.

Watching Fade approach the Unicorn, she decided she'd waited long enough, and slowly walked towards one of the fawns. Stopping a few paces away, she held out her paw to wait for the fawn's reaction.

(( cracks up))

"You're right about that." Millie said to Aderyn. Millie stood there for a while without saying anything and just stroked the mare's mane. She was at loss for words in front of the beautiful unicorn

Aderyn accepted the flower from Magnus and smiled.

"Thanks! I'll start with the flower and see how she likes it."

Turning back to face the unicorn, Aderyn held out the flower in her hand, glancing at Emmy with a smile.

"Go grab an apple! I'm sure she'd love it."

The unicorn tipped its head toward her hand at that moment, sniffing briefly at the flower before taking it from her, chewing it in a quick bite and swallowing. The creature whinnied softly, looking pleased, and Aderyn smiled brightly.

Emmy watched as Magnus gave Aderyn () a flower, and stood there, still stroking the mare's cheek, since she hadn't been given anything to give her to eat.

"They do love apples," Emmy replied to Aderyn's suggestion, stroking the unicorn once more before stepping away. "Just like regular horses, isn't that right?" she asked the unicorn, smiling. She walked off and got an apple from Magnus (), then returned, letting herself back into the paddock.

"Here, girl," she said softly, reaching out without hesitation and offering the unicorn the apple. She smiled as the animal sniffed once at the food before snatching the fruit from her hand and chomped happily on it.

"Ya can give the fawns an apple," he said handing Paddy and Rowan one each. "Wanna give 'em one, Katsumi?" Aderyn had fed hers the flower and then he blushed when realised he hadn't given Emmy an apple for her to feed the unicorn. "Sorry, didn't mean ta overlook ya. Still new at this an' I get a bit carried away." He hoped Emmy wouldn't be mad at him since it was completely unintentional.

"Accio Apple" Sam commanded, holding out her hand, as the fawn in her lap nuzzled her under the chin. Obligingly, an apple rose out of Magnus' pack and floated leisurely over to her outstretched palm.
"Since you're a fawn I think I'll call you a buck for now" Sam said to the baby unicorn as she carefully cut the apple into small slices. "You like that Bucky?" she asked offering a slice to the eager fawn who ate it, with his little lion-cub tail wiggling happily.

"Sorry, Sam," he said, "I forgot ta give you an apple too." His head lowered. He didn't seem to be the best captain of the club forgetting things and not knowing the answers.

"Not to worry" Sam laughed "I need the practice. Did you ever see a slower Accio spell?" The unicorn fawn butted her again and looked up hopefully at the remaining apple slices. "Yes, yes here you go Buck, you greedy little tyrant" Sam said as she fed him several more slices. "I don't see how anyone could bring themselves to hurt a creature like this. We use powdered unicorn horn in our potions class, how do we collect unicorn horn without hurting them?"

When meeting Magnus’s () dad for the first time Fade had to stop himself from staring. Bartley Lee towered over the children and had an air of mystery about him, but Fade quickly came to feel very safe under the smiling eyes of Mr.Lee. For someone who didn’t have much interaction with his own grandparents, meeting and enjoying some time spent with Magnus’s elders was a blast. Especially the part when the other boy had his cheeks pinched red. But Fade was not spared his own humiliation because when his own mother Genevieve stopped in for an afternoon of introductions and tea, she thought to bring with her an array of homemade tarts to share, and to Fade’s horror more clean pairs of underwear for her son than anyone would ever have need of. To be fair, Fade didn’t often spend time with other children or families and his mother perhaps wasn’t sure quite what else to bring to be supportive. At least she hadn’t dropped than off while he was at Gaia’s...

As Magnus pulled him to his feet Fade grimaced, but allowed himself to be pulled along. His heart started to beat just about as fast as it ever had, and he swore he could feel it pulsing in his throat. “I er, well I…” He stammered unable to formulate a coherent sentence. Letting out a sigh he suddenly gave in and very slowly lifted a hand for the mare to smell. He avoided eye contact because it was just too much. Her breath smelled sweet and the whiskers on her nose tickled his hand slightly. Before he knew it, the mare had nuzzled her nose into his hand probably on the hunt for the apples everyone was talking about.

When contact had been made Fade’s entire disposition seemed to change. An enormous calm washed over his fraying nerves and soothed all the worries that had been swirling inside his head. Fade’s hair shifted from the minty tint he had been wearing into a silver and then a white that paled in comparison with the unicorns hue. “Your sweet aren’t you.” He cooed at the mare, looking up at her finally. “Your children are lovely.” Assuming any of the foals belonged to her. It was rare for a unicorn to have more than two at a time, but he couldn’t imagine another mother allowing her babies to be taken very far from her. Uncontrollably Fade’s eyes became shimmery as if they were on the verge of tears, but nothing spilled over onto his cheeks. Somehow he was holding it together.

Katsumi was happy for her housemate. He seemed very nervous at first, but after a few moments it was clear Fade was utterly thrilled about the unicorns. Smiling inwardly, she accepted a few slices of apple from Magnus, and pressed all but one into Fade's free hand. She noted the change in his hair color with interest. Come to think of it, the boy had sported various different colors when she'd seen him in the past, but Katsumi had always assumed he charmed it that way. Clearly it was something else altogether. She eyed his pale locks with interest. Would he be offended, she wondered, if she asked him about it?

Paddy looked over her shoulder and saw Fade () with the Unicorn. Despite the rather unusual shades his hair was turning, he seemed to be more comfortable with them, which gave her more confidence at trying to feed one of the fawns. Taking the offered apple from Magnus (), she copied Sam's () idea of cutting it into slices, if anything just to make it last longer. Holding out a single slice, the fawn quickly took it from her paw and started nuzzling her arm in a search for the other slices.