[she rests one hand lightly on his shoulder, with the awkward sincerity of someone who's not used to comforting other people but who really wants to give it her best shot. She looks into his face, her voice soft.]

And you didn't, Al. And neither did your brother. You haven't broken that promise. If they—the admin, or, or whoever—used one of those, that isn't your fault.

[of course, she's got no idea what a philosopher's stone is, but she can guess that it's nothing good. She cant ask him about that mystery if he freezes to death first, though, so she holds up the trousers, already feeling guilty about hole she'd cut in the back for her tail.]

Here—put these on.