A rather hectic morning had passed by. Well, it was hectic for Moira at any rate. After her attempts she had finally succeeded in becoming an animagus. The problem now was she was stuck as a wolf, despite her attempts and even the help she received she hadn't managed to change back. It would be time to eat soon and now she was in for even more wolf lessons.

Sitting not too far from her was the groundskeeper, Felinus. He had found her and taken her off of Professor Donovan's hands saying he'd take care of her and the Professor could take care of other important matters. Then the lion had proceeded to admonish her for not seeking help in such matters. Of course it was easier for him. He could talk as well as make his usual lion noises. All Moira could do was sound like a wolf.

Now they were just waiting on the time for food to be served. While she was hungry Moira didn't want to just sit there and wait. She still felt the need to move. To hunt. Felinus was as good a target as any. He had said he would take care of her, and that included playing right?

Crouching down while his back was to her she crept towards him, ears forward and eyes bright. Then, once she was close enough, she pushed off and pounced at the much older and MUCH bigger lion.

To put it simply, Felinus was exhausted. These last two days, he'd barely been able to sit still. It had never been in his nature, even as a human, to endure his darker emotions in silence. And now he had the anxious fight-flight-defeat-defend instincts of a lion spurring him on.

So he paced. And grumbled. And worried. He'd scrubbed every corridor from the seventh floor to the dungeons and stalked the halls at night, too restless to sleep. The school was informed of Maiko's condition on the 6th, which soothed his nerves somewhat, but he'd yet to hear word about Silas. He wondered if he even qualified anymore as his cousin's next of kin.

He'd been about ready to drop by the time he found Shona Donovan herding a nearly-grown wolf into the castle. And upon learning that the wolf was a student animagus -- Hufflepuff fifth-year Moira McBoid, who'd pursued the practice without a mentor's guidance for some daft reason -- he'd been struck by such a mixture of sympathy, concern, and annoyance that of course he'd volunteered to keep an eye on her until she tired herself out and turned back. That he'd desperately needed something (someone) to fuss over at that moment in lieu of his (grown, professionally successful, and completely competent) cousin did not influenced his decision at all.

At the moment, he lay before the antechamber door, ears quirked towards the Great Hall to listen for the tell-tale chaos of students gathering for dinner. Only a few had trickled in so far, and he was just thinking that he'd have to suggest a prefect's lecture on punctuality when a small, solid weight suddenly landed on his back.

In that moment, Felinus flashed back fifteen years.

He twisted, half-expecting to find Silas, over-excited and eleven years old, clinging to his back and begging for a ride around his uncle's house at Christmas. Instead, he accidentally dislodged the small wolf. It took a moment for the tired gears of his mind to turn in the proper places. Then, he chuckled, which came out as a deep, rumbling half-growl, half-laughter.

Turning that noise into a groan, Felinus flopped over onto one side, settled his back against the seam of the wall, and batted at the wolf with his front paw. He made sure to sweep wide and slow so it'd be easy for McBoid to dodge -- a clear invitation to play. If the pup wanted a bit of a fight, then she'd get it, sure as day.