Podric was entirely too right, playfully angry or not, and Maddox knew it. Heâd have to make up for it by ensuring that things went as smoothly as possible, and remembering to lavish the praise later. Heâd also get some points back for the hammock, he was certain of it. âI know, I know, Batty, and Iâm sorry. This year just feels like more pressure, doesnât it?â He wondered, unsure what exactly the shift was caused by, but it was there nonetheless. âYour brain is the best most wonderful brain to visit,â He reassured before leaning over to kiss Podâs head nice and firm, to show that brain of theirs all the love it deserved. Some of their greatest plans came from the plan ââ and the best get out of Azkaban plans too.Â
  The nodding hurt just a little but it was just penance for his oversight before so he kept quiet about it, shifting just a little to try to coax Pod into not hitting his shoulder that way. âWizard of Oz,â Maddox grinned, recalling the muggle story. âI like it, but Iâm not a scam artist like that, isnât there anyone in that story with real brains and talent?â He wondered, distracted immediately by the thought, at least momentarily, until the journal pages flipped again and he refocused. âSheâs very forgiving and understanding to you, I think she still balks at me sometimes, Pod.â He grinned, but he loved Diana all the same. âYouâre right though,â He grinned, squirming as Pod placed him in the headlock hug. He tossed the journal toward a crate before his arms wrapped tightly in return around their waist, âOf course youâre in, thatâs why I love you,â He beamed, before he shifted his weight, sending both of them falling, Maddox landing on top of Podric, still wrapped tight around them.Â
âI mean .... I guess so,â Podric agreed. Maybe this year it did feel like there was more pressure â on the prank, on a lot of things. Podric didnât know why, though, all Podric knew (or thought they knew, which, really meant what they thought they had gathered judging by the individual crazy â it was relative; you got it from your family â from person to person) was that everyone seemed to be racing, suddenly, to get somewhere, or do something. Pod didnât know when the drive forward had really began, or even what it was, only that they seemed to be noticing it more and more, lately. Were they all just reaching those âagesâ where they were supposed to suddenly panic about missing arbitrary deadlines for milestones? What was even happening? âBut you say that every year,â Podric added, for good measure, though they hadnât been silent very long at all. But the bat was willing to laugh as they accepted their flattery. âItâs a brain, thatâs for sure. Maybe. Probably. The jury is still out, technically, unless youâve had a peek in my skull when I was sleeping.â
Podric hadnât considered that Maddox would remember the story in such detail, though .. they had seen the film more than a few times, and read it at least twice as many. Bat shouldnât have been surprised, but they laughed anyways, outing themself. âI mean, yeah, no, youâre right, youâre right, but I meant in the âman behind the curtainâ sense, yeah? The man with the plan, with the answers, with the secret to getting whatever it is you seek. He had all of that stuff, mate, he just chose to play the conman .. because he was that too.â Either way, though, Podric was still sure that this prank was worth it, and that Diana would forgive them, and that Maddox was being more than just a bit dramatic â which was wonderful. And so was the very aggressive hug, it was a favorite of Podâs, and exactly what theyâd been after to begin with. There was no sign at all that theyâd loosen their grip on the McKinnon anytime soon, either. âOf course Iâm in, mate, cause I love you. And sheâll forgive us, because she loves us. We come as a pair, and everyone knows it. Thereâs no picking which half you like you just get both.â