"Perhaps I might have been," she retorted, but she smiled regardless - he was right, really. She would have only come along to keep him company. Not that having his company outside of school was anything to scoff at.

She remained standing behind him, watching the gentle way he handled the animal. Sometimes, it was difficult to believe the things she knew full well that he was capable of... The things she knew, yet stayed by his side in spite of.

While she waited for him to finish she let her hand rest on his shoulder, her thumb drawing light, firm circles against it.