Changes

Since Dumbledore was assured that the necessary changes would be put into place after the evening's meeting, the apprentices found themselves with a free day. This ended up with Kanda, Allen and Alma watching Lenalee and Timothy perform loops in the air. Lenalee had predictably jumped at the chance to be able to take to the air in any form and had begged Harry to teach her to fly at the first opportunity - which the boy did gladly. Timothy had been a tad more wary but had joined the mini lessons not too soon after. Now they were all proficient in at least staying airborne but took it in turns on the brooms.

"Careful Lena, hold tighter!" Alma yelled as Lenalee performed an intricate spin.

"Okay sorry!" she called back as she steadied herself. Kanda smirked - Alma had joined him in the protective brother club ever since the prophecy and Kanda was happy that the man had stabilised in his mental age after the weeks of jumping from hyper teen to awkward adult. The soft blue robe covered the wooly jumper and Alma looked the part of the soft academic - though everyone in that group knew that it hid the power of the warrior beneath. Alma wasn't the strongest - that title was still balanced between Allen and Kanda - but he had height and dexterity on his side when sparring which meant that, though Timothy was stronger physically, the younger tended to go down first.

Timothy had become something of a tank over the years, a mere slap on the back could send a smaller man flying (as had been proven by several scientists) but he was still gentle and cheeky and Kanda was looking forward to when he could reunite the teen with his old protectors. Soft snores made Kanda look away from the sky and down at the man next to him who was now napping on the banking.

The younger man's nightmares had never eased and Kanda was worried about the near constant bags under his eyes. Allen had experienced things in the war that none of them could understand and, though he had kept his polite and happy personality (which was a more realistic version than the one he mimicked from his old father), there were moments when he would be caught staring into space or napping in strange places. Kanda had tried to help him with dreamless sleep but he couldn't take it every night or risk becoming ill or addicted. But it had taken the edge off. All four siblings were sad that they couldn't do more for him, but they did their best and Allen could tell and was thankful.

Kanda didn't know how or when he had made such jumps in his personality. He had been horrible to everyone and, even nearing the end of the war, he was still a bitter jaded man. But seeing everyone giving their all but still staying positive and 'clean', Kanda realised that there was no need for all the bitterness and so he just stopped. He embraced his new family (who were all happy for him pulling the stick out of his backside) and even accepted Tiedoll as a well-meaning father figure. When the war was over, the first thing he did was apologize to everyone for his terrible attitude which had probably made fighting even more difficult and distracting - but he knew he had to change, so he had. And looking at his little family both on the bank and in the air, he was thankful. Parts of his old personality were still there - he was still quick to anger, awkward with affection and a sarcastic bastard who didn't like to lose - but he no longer fought everyone he met and knew how to smile freely.

"Oof Alma gerrof" he mumbled as the man dragged him into a sitting hug.

"You okay? You looked deep in thought" Alma released him but stayed close, a frown forming. Kanda gave him a small smile and shook his head,

"I'm fine, just reminiscing about stuff"

Alma chuckled,

"How very maudlin of you. Dad would be proud"

Kanda just humphed at the comment but gave an inward smile at the term. The first time Kanda had called Tiedoll 'dad', the man had given the biggest grin and squashed him into a back-crunching hug. And when Alma had come back and asked if he could call him the same thing, Kanda thought the French man would implode from happiness. So Tiedoll had slowly become everyone's 'father', except Allen. His relationship with Cross had healed over the end of the war after the pair realised that they did actually care if the other died and, though Allen would die before calling the womanizer 'dad', the family relationship was clear.

"Yes well, it's just. I've only just realised how much happened and how much everyone changed. Me mostly. And how different things would have been if I hadn't - you probably wouldn't be here for one" Kanda answered honestly, even though the thought had horrified him, he had realised that if he hadn't become close with Allen, the man probably wouldn't have used his wish to bring his - their - brother back.

"Hmm maybe not. But you did change, so there's no point worrying about it" Alma answered simply shrugging and lay back on the grass but suddenly jumped up, jarring Kanda and waking Allen with his shout,

"Timothy Hearst! Never do that again! Get out of the air now!" as he ran after the youngest who had apparently nearly fallen to his death - again.

"Nggh what happened?" Allen sleepily drawled and Kanda scoffed,

"Loop the loop with no hands"

"Idiot" and the pair fell back on the grass.

When Alma eventually returned with a smug Lenalee and abashed Timothy, the two were already asleep, curled up beside each other. Alma looked over to see Timothy gain a glint in his eye which only meant trouble but before they could warn anyone the teen had pointed his wand at the two sleeping princes and,

"Agumenti" a jet of water covered the pair.

"Tim. Run" was all Allen said before the soaked duo chased the youngest, getting in a couple of hexes as they ran. Lenalee and Alma burst out laughing at the display before rushing over to help capture the culprit and cast drying charms over the victims.

A chill descended over the lawn and Kanda spotted the dementors inching closer.
"I think that's our cue to leave"

The others spotted the spectres and shuddered, following the eldest back inside the castle.