Not only was Grace understanding, but she seemed to be able to relate. Fauna nodded, glancing down too. It had been an eventful year. She and many others had been marked by it, would never forget it.

Fauna looked up in surprise when Grace suddenly smiled and said she was glad they were friends. She couldn't have imagined it either. Grace, the perfectionist prefect and Quidditch player, and several of the other friends she'd gotten closer to in this house. They were a part of her support system now.

"I'll always be here, you know," she smiled back. "If we can handle poisonous detentions..." She trailed off, not wanting to make light of her mother's death. Grace had been so strong this past month, moving out and looking for jobs, and Fauna admired her for it, unsure if she would have been able to do the same.

"I'm glad we've become better friends too." Rising from the table, she started to gather her dishes. Fauna set them in the sink, paused, and walked around the table, giving her a hug around the shoulders.