His fingers idly played through her hair as she spoke, he stifling a yawn that threatened to break over him. As tired as he truly was, there was no way in the world he'd let Emme know. She'd insist he head up to bed and, knowing her, a no wouldn't be allowed from him. And so, he blinked his eyes hard a few times and urged himself to not give into the combined warmth of the slowly dying fire and the girl pressed so comfortably against him.

"Don't let yourself think that, Emme. You're not the only one who lost loved ones in this school," he said, not aware, in the least, how harsh that sounded. He was, afterall, pointing out a fact. He plodded on, though, blissfully unawares. "People have lost friends and family even in this house. Just because you needed to take a few weeks before coming back to school doesn't mean that you should feel bad."