Emma's heart fluttered at the sight of Leander's grin, a warmth spreading through her that she couldn't quite ignore. The thought of him out in the world while she remained at Hogwarts left a bittersweet feeling lingering in her chest. It was strange to imagine the castle without him, he had been here when she arrived, he seemed as much of a fixture as Professor Black or the ghosts, and the idea that he would be moving on while she stayed behind made her feel a twinge of sadness.

"I'm sure this place will miss you too," she began softly. But before she could stop herself, the words tumbled out. "And I'll miss you as well, Leander." Realizing what she had just admitted, Emma's eyes widened slightly, and she felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. She quickly averted her gaze, suddenly bashful. It wasn't like her to be so forward, and she worried for a moment that she might have said too much.

"I mean," she stammered, trying to recover, "Hogwarts just won’t be the same without you around. It’s going to feel… different Mister Hobday."

She glanced up at him, her blush deepening as she met his eyes. "But I’m really glad we’ll keep in touch. Your letters will be something to look forward to." Emma offered him a shy smile, hoping her honesty hadn’t crossed any boundaries. She could only hope that her words had conveyed the genuine affection she felt for him, even if she wasn’t quite ready to fully acknowledge what those feelings meant.