Clifford blinked at her, more in surprise that she wanted to know things about him rather than just assuming. Sure he had sticky fingers, but it wasn’t as if he woke up in the morning and decided today was going to be an entire day of thieving as he ate soggy cereal at the table. “Meena found a Streeler this morning, and damn are those things annoying, always killing things on the farm. Anyhow, I needed some items to take care of it.” He cleared his throat as he realized that lying would have been much easier. “Actually take care of it. Meena wants to keep it as a damn pet but she needs some special gloves to play with it.” They were expensive gloves and the price had made him wince, so he hadn’t bought them yet, unsure what he could give in exchange for them. Cliff had laughed when she’d brought it up, but she’d pouted and Cliff decided it was cheaper than the dog she kept begging for.

He continued on. “I decided that while I was here I might as well look around, and the candle called to me. I had to have it so now I do!” He grinned at her and shrugged; it was hard to explain why he did certain things. He’d seen her property and highly doubted she could sympathize with growing up in the bottom rung of the working class. Sometimes it was either steal and eat, or abide by the law and starve. He always chose the former.

He hummed in response to her being fine because he felt that was a damn lie, but it wasn't his place to tell her that. The things happening in Hogsmeade had been terrible but Cliff felt the tragedy wouldn’t strike him. It couldn’t – not when he had Meena and Heath to take care of. So instead he meandered around like nothing he changed and hoped that nothing would change. (The thought of asking Ida if the offer of making sure Meena and Heath were still taken care of crossed his mind, but that meant he was worried, so the thought went right out the other ear.)

A laugh slipped past his lips as Ida saddled up next to him, and it took everything in him not to knock his shoulder against hers; only Imane and Algae ever stood this close to him (both of which he hadn’t seen in what felt like ages when it had probably been a few days at most – Algae practically lived on the farm when he wasn’t busy with Quidditch practice), and sometimes it was nice to be touched, even accidentally. “Well, if it’s valuable maybe I should sell it and not burn it.” He stated with a shrug, although his entire body stiffened as her hand touched his own. His breath caught in his throat because when was the last time someone voluntarily touched him? Meena didn’t count, and even then all she did was hug him on a rare occasion.

Cliff didn’t trust himself to speak, so instead he nodded as she pointed out all the ancient ruins; sure, he’d taken the class but it hadn’t meant he’d understood anything about it. “You’re really smart, aren’t you?” He breathed out as his hand flexed underneath hers, and he couldn't help but stare at them; he didn’t dare take a peek at Ida, who was much more interested in the candle than he would have thought. He wondered if it had called to her and was delivered through him. A ridiculous thought, but he’d heard of cursed objects doing worse.

“Okayyy… but does this mean we’re going to break in and burn it, or are you just going to ogle it all day? I think I’ll be fine, mindless and all, but you might go a little coocoo because of that big ol’ brain of yours.” Cliff’s grin widened as he used his free hand to gently knock against the top of her head. “Though I don’t know Ida, it sounds a bit hollow inside, so I think you’ll be fine too.” He teased, knowing damn well she probably had two brains inside her head.

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