Dunstan remembered this feeling from last year. The fond, bittersweet warmth of looking around the Ravenclaw common room a few weeks before the Summer holidays and knowing he wouldn't see it again for three whole months. He somewhat took it for granted the rest of the year, the same way he took for granted his family home in Bartonburg when he was absent from it. Sometimes it felt apt to treat important places a little more like people.

The young half-vampire mused on such personable theories as he sat on one of the comfy seats by the fire one Tuesday evening, having already finished his homework. After a moment's contemplation, Dun twisted in his chair and asked a gaggle of his nearest housemates — "anyone fancy a game of chess?"

@"Emma Binns"