After the panel has closed and they've made it down to Hogsmeade

“I don’t know about all of you,” Cepheus addressed the group as he returned from the bar, “but that was enough to put me off for a month.” He sank down at the table with the rest of the panel survivors. He’d call them survivors after that day. It had seemed to stretch for a lifetime, and he now knew far more about well, everything, than he did before. The other patrons of the Three Broomsticks gave them some odd glances, and Cepheus had almost forgotten he was wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with Team Interspecies Relations under his jacket[1]. He hadn’t anticipated t-shirts when he’d rocked up to the school, far more feeling the nostalgia of being back there, and remembering what he was going to say in the talk part.

“Greatest contraceptive? You’re looking at them.” The Being Division Head continued, drawing his finger around the group, “Thank f.. for Hogwarts paying for a stiff drink.” He raised his glass to the members of the group gainfully employed by the school, who had managed to find themselves on the panel, or in Maiko’s case, chairing it. Then again, she seemed to take a certain pleasure in doing it. Ceph was just glad he hadn’t jammed his foot in his mouth.

“So were there any questions that needed to be burnt rather than asked?” He asked with a grin.

1.	Polyvore by Nuri <3

       “Greatest contraceptive? You’re looking at them.”

Dietrich snorted, nearly choking into the pint of lager he'd been knocking back when the Beings guy got back to their group. He made to toast Cepheus' glass across the table with a smiling, tight-lipped expression. "You said it," he agreed whole-heartedly with the sentiment and felt beholden to the gods that Bai wasn't around to watch the panel.

He didn't think talking to pimple-faced youths about condom preferences was enough to make her break off their engagement to be married in May but it wouldn't exactly encourage rose petals on the bed covers.

"The one about where to put their hands[1]. It was real cute, though." Dietrich took a break from his drink to sit back, one arm around the back of his chair as he grinned. "Maybe not worth burning. I'm telling you, Shona and I got off easy compared to the rest of y'all. Those kids are never gonna be the same again after today."

At least they didn't have to talk about jellyfish plugs or catching something ugly from somebody else.

1.	Anonymous question at the panel, "What do we do with our hands during sex?"

Carol, as a rule, did not drink alcohol, but that did not mean she hadn’t stowed away a brownie for the occasion and could not do with a good cup of warm tea after a rather exciting afternoon.  She’d enjoyed herself thoroughly, and knowing that a good portion of the students in the castle were just as informed as she wanted her own daughter to be, well – she congratulated herself by indulging.  She’d intended to offer some around… but well – too late!

By the time they’d made it to the Three Broomsticks, Carol could already feel a warm, fuzzy sort of feeling about her and she settled comfortably among the, by and large, much younger crowd.  It made her feel youthful!  Not that she ever truly felt old – years of yoga and a strict adherence to doing whatever she wanted to do ensured that. 

“I think it was delightful!” Carol broke in with a wide smile across her face.  She lifted her tea to her lips, the multitude of rings she wore glittering in the light.  “We’ve ensured they make informed decisions and they’ll most assuredly pass the information onto students who couldn’t attend, for whatever reason.  A congratulations is in order though,” she looked around the assembled group unaware, or just ignoring, if anyone was uncomfortable or thought she was strange. 

“Oh gods, yes,” Cepheus agreed with Eisenberg. “I don’t think we’re going to be the same either…"

“I think it was delightful!” Kemp, the midwife broke in. She was the sort of person Ceph’s parents wouldn’t consider inviting for dinner because she had no qualms about discussing personal subjects at the dinner table, much like his elder brother. Some of her answers had the students hiding behind their hands or biting their knuckles. He wasn’t sure if that was better or worse than leaning forward and making faces at his.

“… A congratulations is in order though,” Kemp concluded after a description of that day that was very glass half full.

“A congratulations?” Ceph queried, drink halfway between the table and his lips.