A Helping Hand for the Younger Generation Private

Xailah was shocked to find herself considering it- considering returning Schrödinger to Jake's infant-like face. Was that- was that a wrong thing to consider doing? The metamorph eyed the place that Schrödinger was cowering beneath. George prodded at the cat. He would succeed in grabbing him. The badger would feel Schrödingers thick rolls of fat, squeeze through his fingers. Schrödinger didn't want to leave the safety of the desk. So he went limp. Schrödinger had this... really weird defense mechanism. It was similar to when Opossums play dead. The cat had figured out that if he went completely limp, he was harder to grab. His excessive fat almost made him slippery, in a strange sort of way. Before the boy could take him anywhere; Schrödinger would slide from the Hufflepuffs hands, and fall to the ground with a soft plop. The cat would go belly up, and lay there. Motionless. "We could try.." A fleeting glance, was shot in the direction of the smallest badger.

There was no protest from the sandy-haired child. Xailah shifted a little from the door. Thank goodness Meenauh spoke up when she did- if she hadn't, Jake would have probably found himself with the cat on his face. Again. Yes, yes, you are right. Meenuah was right. They didn't really want to do that again- right? Schrödinger certainly didn't deserve to relive the embarrassment. Jake- well, Xailah wasn't too sure about what Jake deserved. The metamorph would watch Meenauh try to coax something out of the scared child. Meenauh stooped, lowering herself to Jakes level. It reminded Xailah of something. In some weird way, it reminded her of how a mother spoke to her child. Perhaps the scene had triggered a repressed childhood memory, that was now trying to resurface. The metamorph truly didn't know anymore. Jake would sputter. It was the start of a confession. But something made the boy panic. Something triggered the primitive instinct to run. Meenauh would not get her answers. Xailah would not get her confession. George would not get a passing grade in Transfiguration (most likely).

It was painful. To some extent. Watching the small badger cub, squirm, and run. Watching the way he darted around- it reminded Xailah of a mouse. A mouse that knew that it had been caught by the snake. A mouse that knew that there was no way out. The prefect did not move away from the door immediately. Instead she stood there- and watched the boy panic, and scramble towards a false freedom. Jake had nowhere to go. Xailah knew that much. She too had tried to run. Multiple times. There was always a wall however- some sort of obstacle blocking her from the freedom she desired. The lioness let out a hollow sigh, and stepped to the side. Her hand fell on the doorknob- gloved fingers wrapped around the cold metal. She yanked the door open, and revealed the dark corridor that lead to... nowhere. Nowhere important at least. Jake could cry. He could hide. He could run. But he couldn't escape. Not now- it was far too late for that. Jake wanted to run from whatever was bothering him, for a little bit longer. Xailah was not going to be the roadblock that prevented him from doing so. She would let him run. Just- just for a little while longer.

Disappointment was all the Gryffindor could really feel in that moment. It wasn't the kind of disappointment one feels when they didn't get their way- it was more like she was disappointed in the fact, that there was no way either lioness could help the tiny badger. Not now anyways. Their opportunity to help, had passed. Their paths probably wouldn't cross for a very long time. It was an unfortunate realization really. But that was how things worked around here. Xailah would look to Meenauh and George. "I sssuppose our lesson is over, isn't it?" The metamorph let out a gentle snort, before weaving her way over to the two. She slowly gathered her things. She didn't have much to pick up mostly just her magazines. She eyed the homework of both badgers. "Better not forget your homeworks." She said plainly. She had little to say- what else was there to say? The metamorph went on about her business, as if pretending the last fifteen(?) minutes did not happen. It was better that way. The lioness would begin to make her way out of the room. Schrödinger shot up immediately, and followed after his mistress. "It was nice meeting you, and your friend, George. Meenauh, I think I'll be in the commons." She called to whoever was around to listen, as she stepped through the doorway. There was no longer a reason for her to be there. There was no longer a reason for any of them to be there.

She knew it was too much. He was no lab rat. He was no subject to any research. He was human. A scared human. Scared to his guts. None of them would know why. And for a very long time since the meeting in the library. It was not their moment to save the boy. Maybe some other time.

Jake seemed to be starting his frightened confession, but something was stopping him. His words were the beginning of a story. A story never told. A horror never revealed.

And then he ran away. Meenauh was on her knees, holding the arm of the chair and following the boy with her haze look. She was concentrated on her thoughts. And also sad. Silence dropped onto them all for a few seconds before Xailah ended it with dry sarcasm. When she mentioned homework, Meenauh was still looking past Xailah at the door, behind which the small boy disappeared. Why his skin was unharmed? It would fill her head for a couple of days before routine matters would make it fade away. The end of the school year was coming closer and they had a lot of work to do and a lot of things to study. This meeting would slowly burn itself out and will be replaced by many others. There was still Potter's case and The Search of the Wand. And more Daily Prophets to analyse. Maybe someday Jake will speak and will free himself of the painful memories. If they remain.

Meenauh would nod to Xailah and look at George, who was standing where he stood motionless, probably shocked by what had happened as well. She'd lazily look at the homework and then back at George before standing back up on her feet. She'd get deeper into her thoughts and cast the Pack Charm at the homework without any effect as no trunk was present anywhere nearby.

"Ah, damn, sorry" she'd apologise, not quite understanding what for, "I will see you later, George," she'd drop quietly, grabbing her bag and gently putting it across her shoulder. George wouldn't turn.

"You don't need help w-" she started her question, but the boy would launch off from where he was and would run after Jake without dropping a single word to her, "with the books..." she finished after a pause looking at the doors that served the exit to three people and a cat over the last half a minute or so. She would look at the mess on the table and wouldn't be able to leave. Grabbing a book after another, she organised everything on the table neatly and would look around before making her way out slowly through the damned door.

Leaving the thread.
Permission to godmod George was received.
The thread is completed.