The Professor stopped and began to ask something of them, and didn't complete his question - the way he looked over Ambrose made the Gryffindor think he was referring to the hole he'd blown in the bank with his wand in anger. Expecting a detention, worse, or a drowning perhaps, he stayed still and the Professor became more interested in Moira, who Ambrose realised was further along the bank.

"Crap, Moira's hurt!" Ambrose exclaimed, getting up successfully at last and making a move in her direction, even if the Professor was already making brisk progress towards her. He slung a look back over his shoulder at Alvis, who he blamed for this of course.

"All your -"

Alvis Norling looked as if he could murder someone. Ambrose thought he was pretty pissed, but Alvis looked off the scale to the point Ambrose didn't finish his sentence and gave his classmate a funny look before deciding not to go there - probably the wisest decision he'd made in a long while.

Turning back, he hurried as fast as he could through the shallows to Moira, not caring that Storm would be there at about the same time.

"I'll take her to Madam Nagde, Professor, let me, Moira, you alright?" His tone was quite sharp towards the Professor but very soft towards Moira, as he dropped beside her and reached for her shoulder.

"Come on, Madam Nagde will sort you - I should have grabbed hold of you, I'm sorry - here." He shot the Professor a filthy look for a split second and feared for his neck a moment, but then shot another glance, not receiving the reaction he expected from the old wizard. Heaving Moira onto his shoulder, he gave it no further thought, more concerned with getting his close friend to the healer's hut.

He'll blink first.

The thought had no power behind it, only simple truth. It flitted through Alvis's mind as though it came from somewhere else, which may have in fact been the case. Even knowing what mind-magic could do, he still wasn't very good at separating his own feelings from everyone else's.

Either way, he was shortly proven right, as Storm blinked very deliberately and turned away to reach McBoid. Alvis remained as he had been for a few moments after, muscles coiled and eyes burning with his wand still tight in his hand. He saw Ambrose turn back; felt a tickle of anger, confusion, hesitance; and saw his mouth move, but didn't hear a word.

It took another thought -- Blink -- before he finally did, breaking himself out of the trance. He was met head-on by a blistering headache and hissed, one hand going for his temple. He was still pissed off, which just made it worse. He could hear his own heart pounding in his ears...

McBoid. Moira. Hurt. That's what was important now. He didn't trust Storm to actually help her, not now.

He jogged and caught up just as Ambrose hoisted the girl onto her feet. He slipped past Storm to add his arm to Moira's waist, steadying her on the opposite side before the still-restless waters could pull them back down. He had to crouch a bit, to make up for the three inches he had on both classmates, but wasn't about to complain.

"I'll come too," he muttered, keeping his eyes focused on the water. "The more support she has, the better."

"Straight there - no spells," the Professor sneered to Pepper, "and don't be late for your next lesson."

Looking murderous, the Professor turned on his heel to let the two boys get Moira to Nagde's hut. It wasn't that far, and they were both capable of carrying her as necessary. McBoid was just being wet and weak as usual. No doubt a cry for attention of the boys. Pepper might have shown affection for Cyhirae Trishna, but it appeared that was on the wane between them. For the best in Ignan's opinion.

He stalked away, shouting at some of the remaining students who hadn't scuttled off to get washed and to their next lesson. Norling would have to wait, but his suspicions were raised...



END Thanks for a great lesson - will go ahead and tot up housepoints in a moment and close up the thread.


Gryffindor

Ambrose Pepper 6 +2
Lua Taylor 1 +2

Hufflepuff

Moira McBoid 4 +2

Ravenclaw

Alvis Norling 6 +2
Addison Rockwell 3 +2
Kelvin Watkins 1 +2
Juni Zamperia 2 +2

Slytherin

Erin Dark 2 +2
Casey O'Doherty 1 +2