Despite himself and the anger that was still writhing inside him Kyson cracked a little smirk. He couldn't believe the gall on Rigel. He knew he definitely couldn't have stayed as calm as the older student had - which he had already demonstrated - but he also didn't think he could have followed it all up with asking the girl for dinner. He doubted that Acrux meant it as a date but judging by Zeta's response and subsequent gesture, she may have thought it as such.

He looked to his housemate a little astonished, "Are you really going to keep her wand?"

He didn't think that would last very long. Kyson pegged Zeta as the kind of girl that would go directly to the Headmaster and demand he make Rigel give it back. If she didn't plead her case to a Prefect or the Head Students before they made it fully to the castle. Even after having just been hexed by said wand Kyson didn't think it was a good idea to keep it separated from it's master for too long. It wouldn't like it, wands were weird like that.

"Are you really going to keep her wand?"

Rigel sat back down to the seat closest to the window. Watched the trees pass without a care in the world. Put his unfocused eye out onto the horizon so that he wouldn’t have to dash his eyes back and forth.

“Yeah mate. She made you puke - but I kinda think you were off base.”

They were in private, that was the time to have this talk.

“Now I know that you have a history with wolves. You shouldn’t generalize a group. You are wrong but that doesn’t mean I won’t protect you.”

Kyson huffed and crossed his arms over his chest looking like a great big child who had their favourite toy taken away, "C'mon mate, you're really going to side with her?" He motioned towards the door to the compartment which Zeta had recently retreated through.

He didn't like being told that he was wrong, especially when he had good reason to believe that he was right. Even if he was wrong about throwing all werewolves into the same basket, he certainly wasn't wrong about Foley. There were plenty of other werewolves Pepper could have used to gain sympathy. There was that Albino kid from Hufflepuff and wasn't the one with all the hats a werewolf? She was as harmless as they came and a another Hufflepuff (seriously what was with that house?!) Heck, she could have even used the Headmaster to make her case. He knew that the original SAWS had been created because of Foley being expelled but she hadn't exactly done the group any favours.

His expression was sour and he crossed his arms again, adding a level of sass his sisters would be proud of, "Well maybe if you had been orphaned by a werewolf you'd feel differently about it all too." He knew he was pulling the victim card and he also knew that Rigel knew him well enough to call him out on his bullshit. His father wasn't dead (though he might as well be) and Aunt Sheridan had been a fantastic mother, he had more family than he could shake a broomstick at but it was easy to play 'woe is me' with the taste of slug still in his mouth.

‘Well maybe if you had been orphaned by a werewolf you'd feel differently about it all too."

Rigel hated when Ky was obdurate. Rigel was short on patience, especially after the events that just transpired. He took a deep breath, let two minutes pass for Ky to cool off.

How did Rigel want to go about this? Should he act paternally, with a filial sense of love and protection? Maybe aggression to confront Ky’s obstinance.

He mimicked Kyson’s body language.

“Don’t insult my intelligence or our friendship.” He said in an attempt to assuage Ky.

He let out another one of his deep breaths.

“There is no such thing as good people. There is no such thing as bad ones either. There is only good deeds and bad deeds. Anyone can carry them out with a destructive force like the one you and your sisters have sustained. That cast of iron formed around your heart and emotions associated with the person and group that carried out those things is just a defense. Drop that with me. Talk to me. Zeta did a bad deed to you, you antagonized. Be mindful. Every person is different, with motives that we may never be able to see. Separate them into their own groups if need be, don’t draw lines and reach for connections that aren’t there.”

He returned to mimicking Kyson’s body language. He would let the silence rule the cart if need be.

Kyson sat for a long while, his arms still crossed. He thought over Rigel words and begrudgingly agreed with them even if he wasn't about to say it aloud. In fact he had to actually bite his lip to keep from retorting, 'yeah, well, that's just like your opinion, man'

He finally unfurled himself and leaned forward instead, "I'm not apologizing to her." He started off firmly, "And I'm not wrong about Foley. Schlagenweit could have been killed." He had no real loyalty to the former Ravenclaw. He couldn't even remember if he had ever even interacted with him but his 'brothers' had been close with him and that was the sort of loyalty Kyson clinged to.

He leaned back again, "I am sorry though, not to her, to you." He glanced out the window, it looked like they were getting close to the little Wizarding Village outside the school, "I'm a dick, okay? I know that." He hesitated for a moment, "I just - get agitated when I have to see him." Kyson had previously though briefly mentioned having seen his father over the holidays, "I guess Zeta throwing the whole SAWS stupidity in my face so soon afterwards set me off."

Though he didn't say so, he had been hoping that Zeta would have known better. While the pair weren't close by any stretch of the imagination she had been present for the Boggart incident. You'd think after finding out that someone's greatest fear (allegedly) was werewolves you'd steer clear from asking for their help in fighting for said werewolves rights.

“I guess Zeta throwing the whole SAWS stupidity in my face so soon afterwards set me off.”

Kyson was being honest. Rigel admired that. He let one of his genuine smiles fit onto his face neatly and glowingly. Kyson kept looking out of the window, Rigel knew why, he wanted to close that gap but not forcefully. One thing he is glad for is that Ky listened.

“You’re emotions are real.” He paused thinking of the next thing to say.

“But they also don’t make you right.”

“You’re not a dick… Look man.” Rigel grabbed Kyson’s left shoulder and fit his hand between the crease of his collarbone and clavicle messaging it, in aims to destress Kyson.

“I understand, maybe more than you give me credit for. Probably because I haven’t shared too much of my past. Actually, none of it really. I understand the complexities of you and your father's relationship.”

He breathed out, released his stress.

“I know this world is tough. Being a Slytheran you have to choose your friends wisely. I may have guise, I will never betray you. You hold back often. What I say to you sometimes you never internalize. Sometimes I’m a pretentious and impatient asshole. What I’m trying to say is… I don’t doubt your autonomy, or your independence. I know you don’t need me or my charity. I know you’re not weak. Whatever you need, I’ll do my best to give it to you.”

He put his hand down. His throat tightened up and it showed in his voice acutely. He slackened his tie, moving it back and forth with one hand while using his finger to relieve pressure on his neck.

He took a deep breath. His throat started to recede.

Sweet Salazar, Rigel was being emotional.

Kyson would have averted his gaze and tried his best to ignore the sudden heart to heart he had stumbled into. Then the older Slytherin went and put his hand on his shoulder, thumb caressing his collarbone. All thoughts of protest went out the window. Rigel's words were falling on deaf ears as all the hormone riddled teenager could do was focus on the sudden, comforting contact. Kyson swallowed hard, blinked slowly and found that he had raised his own hand to place atop Rigel's.

As his friend withdrew, Kyson resumed looking out the window. He knew he should say something in return but his head felt fuzzy and he still had the unmistakable stink of slugs in his mouth, "thanks mate." Was all he could muster, his own voice thick with sudden emotion. He knew he probably should have said more but he was having a hard enough time trying to remember what had been said to him in the first place.