After dinner
Professor Armstrong walks out of the Great Hall. Zak and Nico follow him, Zak having filled Nico in on everything but the crush. "Bro, why didn't you tell me?" Nico asks as walk into Professor Armstrong's office. Zak shrugs,"I don't know. I'm sorry." Nico sighs,"it's ok." Professor Armstrong walks over over the fireplace, and summons Sirius, Britney and Mike. Mike steps out of the fireplace and immediately makes eye contact with Zak, who despite having sent Mike several letters over the last few months still forgets how to breathe around Mike. Zak blinks twice. Sirius walks over and hugs Zak. "Hi dad! Hi mom!" Zak says, looking really nervous. "Bud?" Sirius says, noticing how nervous Zak looks. Britney says,"you can tell us anything, honey." "No matter what, you're always going to be my favorite stepson, buddy" Mike says, walking over and patting Zak's shoulder.Zak briefly makes eye contact with Professor Armstrong, who smiles encouragingly. "I've been stressed out lately. My p bass quit working. It's the month that we got diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. I think I'm developing a crush on Nico. And I'm worried about Mikey, he's been looking sick lately" Zak says, blushing tomato red. Nico blinks in confusion. "Bro, do I need to remind you about the soul bond?" Nico says, looking over at Zak. Zak gasps, "oh hell. We did forget about that." Mike blinks, "you just sent a letter. Why didn't you say something about your p bass?" Zak shrugs,"because we're stressed? I don't know. Maybe we forgot when we were writing that letter?" Professor Armstrong looks at Zak,"your professors are worried about you. I'm the only one who knows that you have some difficulties, though. You're gonna have to tell them eventually." Zak blinks, "uhhhh. No thanks. We don't want to be seen as stupid, or unteachable." Mike Dirnt says "they try that route, imma give them a piece of my mind!" "Hey! I was gonna say that too!" Mike says. Zak snorts in amusement and taps the side of his head, "Mike just said the same thing!" Sirius chuckles,"You can tell your other professors when you are ready. If that's tomorrow, that's fine. If it's today, that's also ok. Their opinion doesn't matter! You have your favorite bassist backing you up. Do you really need their approval as well?" Zak shakes his head,"I have the Black family insanity!" Britney laughs,"oh honey. I think we know."