Returning the boy's smile as she felt the awkwardness radiate between them, Neely rolled her eyes. Promoted. Was she that intimidating? Most of the time, she was completely oblivious. "I'm not that mean, you know... Just to people who deserve it. I'm an angel otherwise." Of course she was. Neely straightened up a little, but still walked in the usual floaty way. "And we're totally friends. No promotions. We just are. You won't even get to charge me the next time we study," she said, smiling. She'd been the one to bring up fees in the first place, of course, and would certainly hand over the galleons if she needed extra help. But maybe Sasha wouldn't mind studying together, even if he was smarter than anyone in the school, and she was... Neely. "My mum travels a lot, so I haven't had a chance to mention you, we talk a lot about the same people. She knows Jordyn and Evie like they're her nieces or something. And who talks to their dad about boys?" She continued, speaking rapidly but with ease. "Even just the normal ones," she added, as if Sasha might break or trip if she injected anymore awkward implications about their fake relationship into the conversation. "Except, you know, Arius or William Pennyapple. He knows how lush they are." They were real people who weren't real people. Just like the glossy magazine covers, those famous men would always have that shiny barrier in front of them, even if Neely was standing there talking to them. It was what kept her so entranced as a teenager. But this... this was real life. If Sasha had been 'promoted', then perhaps so had Neely.

Her smile became calmer but Neely felt a little jolt when Sasha admitted it would be nice to see her-- presumably spend time with her-- elsewhere. So he did enjoy her company... not that it shouldn't have been obvious by this point, at least. They had gone over it or danced around it enough to varying degrees of bluntness and honesty. But Neely was often too suspicious or otherwise too naive. "Sasha, I'm inviting you," she clarified. Maybe she should have left out the maybes, and just gone for it. Jordyn didn't hate him, and, as far as she knew, probably didn't pay him much attention at all. While he might not have been able to stroll into any random party as if he were a professional quidditch player slash dragon slayer, he could be invited, couldn't he? Even if they were a bit picky at times. (A bit). "You can help me pick her gift if you want." Was that too forward?

"You didn't step out of any bounds..." If anyone had done that, it was Neely. Even she knew it. But she wasn't about to say it. Admitting what she just had, trying to pacify him, was almost self incriminating in a 'let-me-pull-on-my-humble-hat' sort of way. It fit Neely less than the fabulous hat she'd worn last week, and was about as regularly visible Hannah. But she was being sincere. And, really, when it was just Sasha and Neely on their own, outside of school, where a mountain social rules and consequences applied at all times, it was much easier to be honest in the other kind of way. The sweet way. "I'm glad I came too. You saved me from another one of my uncle's lunches where he drinks a whole bottle of elf-made wine and then tells us how he doubled his fortune by tricking a garden gnome." He might not have known she was coming, and she might have taken the initiative herself, but it was still the truth. She resisted the urge to prove this in some way; grabbing his hand or his arm would hardly help Sasha speak in complete sentences without sorries or uncomfortable pauses interjected. It was shocking, really, that he still had a voice after what had happened last week. Neely sort of wondered if he wasn't going to turn into one of those muggle versions of mermaids who lost their voices and resorted to letting lobsters speak for them. Minus the fish tail. "Now that I know how to get here I won't even have to worry about getting lost in the dark in my favorite heels." Praise Merlin.

Listening to the social structure of his family, Neely found it oddly familiar, easy to understand, even if it was also outdated and unfair. Wizards, especially the old Pureblood aristocracy which was constantly dwindling in number, had more than one archaic tradition, and certainly a slew of questionable social beliefs. While Neely didn't connect Sasha's father's beliefs with a wizarding chain of superiority inspired by blood purity, she did recognize the formalities, the stubborness. Even she was a creature of comfort in certain instances. But weren't they all? Still, she was also a female, and would jump to defend herself. Her mother's own behavior and her father's generous pocket might have encouraged as much of a feminine agreeableness and docile attitude toward certain people and her future as an heiress as it did a spoiled little girl complex and impractical dreams, but she needed to give her two sickles. "She sounds like the sane one in your family. It's too bad she wasn't at the polo match last week." But maybe, if she ran into his father, she could pretend to be a submissive little science-loving artist and see how far it got her. Now in the pair of flat boots, she kicked at nothing in particular as she walked. Her foot only grazed neat grass before she resorted to the lighter manner. Neely loved to jump to conclusions, but Sasha didn't even need to clarify this time. It was obvious to her that, in most environments, she probably could have persuaded him to do anything, dead cats or no dead cats. It just took a little pushing and pouting sometimes. She nodded silently; she understood.

"They don't like you because boys are... They just don't," she said simply, expertly. She'd undoubtedly used this exact non-argument fifteen times before. "Actually, they might like you since you're a genius with horses." Those pretty four-legged creatures who weren't repulsive like hippogriffs were interrelated in her mind. Unicorns, horses, ponies, abraxons, zebras. Feeling a little guilty all of the sudden, because she thought it must be a drag for Sasha to live with such people and be discriminated against by unicorns everywhere, she added a little more gently, "No, I think we should wait until school. When you're a prefect and eating your words, then you can make me cocoa. We'll toast..." After curfew, just to test his new badge. Maybe she would even make it for him.

Noticing his blush, wondered whether to prepare herself, or whether it was another standard Sasha moment. What was that tag line about moments and muggle cameras? They should change the word to Sasha. But then he brought up Hannah, asked the exact question that had run through Neely's mind too much and not enough. She went quiet for a moment, preparing herself. "If your sister thought we were dating and was happy for us, it wouldn't matter," she said, trying to make sense of it without telling him she'd been rather jealous in the heat of it, and ridiculously jealous afterward, at home, thinking about whatever bad things Anna was saying about her to Sasha's parents. "I would have told her we were just friends, then. But she had to go and tell me how much of a better person Hannah is than I am," she continued, her mouth twisting. "And she's not. I don't care if you made her sound like Harry Potter's new wife, Sasha, it's not fair!" Didn't he understand? It was common girl logic. "And... and... if I didn't say that, you wouldn't have, and it would ruined everything." By that, Neely meant that she would have felt weird being around him, knowing that he'd let his sister get away thinking some nonexistent friend was more important. They hadn't been particularly close, but it still stung a little. Neely could hardly put into words that she also felt a little offended that his invisible girlfriend, the one he'd created to be perfect presumably by his own standards, was Neely's virtual opposite. It wasn't as if she and Sasha had been on speaking terms when he'd created Hannah all of those years ago. This feeling had made Neely uneasy for a few days, when she was thinking about the kiss. She spent so much time criticising other people that she never paused to consider a scenario where she might not be good enough for someone else.

It was a fair question, and anyone but Neely would have admitted that his logic was, for lack of fancier wording, perfectly logical. She shrugged, still pouting. She'd just wanted a quick defense. Her face became softer again when Sasha told her she was better than Hannah. "Really? I am?" Confidence aside, she had to ask. These were always the points, the very honest ones, that were the hardest accept. If someone thrice as shallow and half as truthful as Sasha had told her she was better, Neely would have been content and carried on. "You don't just fancy girls like... that? I mean, not that you fancy me, but you don't think I'm not as good as her because I'm not brilliant at science?" The questions came out like a flood that had been tamed for far too long. Since they were being honest. "I was only trying to add on to your lie," she said weakly. "I didn't mean to get you in more trouble." Well, not afterward, when she'd actually had time to stop being angry. "I didn't mean to make your parents disappointed in you... or your girlfriend." Some of it, at least on Neely's part, hadn't been just a ploy to upset or convince Anna. "I kissed you because I wanted to," she admitted, staring straight ahead at the horse and the sprawling grounds.

With the heaviness of Hannah and admitting a truth or two swimming in her head, Neely was pleased to hear that Sasha had had fun breaking school rules. It forced a smile to her lips, even if he couldn't see it from where he was sitting. If she could get him to have fun more often, he might loosen up enough not to care anymore what his sister thought. Maybe Neely would stop caring, too. Her smile grew larger and her lips quickly parted into a clear look of marvel as they began to move in a little circle. It was amazing, how often her emotions could change in the Ravenclaw's company. Even more than usual for Neely. But now she was only thinking about the fact that they were actually, successfully riding a horse. "This is insane!" She said proudly. "Everyone at school would be jealous." She tightened her grip on the reins as Sasha squeezed her hands. She was a little less confident when he let go, but she made up for it by trying to turn them to the right.

"Thestrals would be--" The news that Sasha didn't have his wand almost made Neely pull too hard or let go. Indeed, there was a little jerk. The idea of giving up her wand for a summer, even if she couldn't use it, was like agreeing to chop off a leg. "But what if someone takes it?" She demanded. "What if you get into an emergency and need magic?" Emergency by Neely's definition was probably much less dire than most people's. "I have mine with me here," she said quickly. "Are you really that worried your parents are going to find out?" It was almost crazier than the epic Hannah episode.

Silently, without giving him a hint one way or another, Neely tried to lead the horse toward cattle, even if she was exceptionally curious about his mother. It probably became obvious where they were going after three steps, but she didn't say anything. She concentrated on the reins and the land ahead and waited for him to tell her more.

As much as Sasha valued the integrity of honesty (when it was an option), Sasha was suspicious that now wasn't the time for complete honesty.  And, in the small defense in his own head, he'd never actually thought Neely was mean.  He didn't think so, at least.  There were times, back when he was a first year, when he tended to watch the whole Slytherin house with a certain wariness but "mean" and "not mean" was a much more black and white concept when one was an, eleven-year-old muggle- and german-raised kid.  But, even as those memories flashed in his head, warning bells started sounding.   "I know you aren't mean," Sasha offered Neely, slowly, obviously picking his words carefully.  "I ..."  Sasha hesitated, letting the sentence run through his head before continuing.  "I just never really expected to see the angelic side is all.  I have been pleasantly surprised."  That didn't sound too horrid, right?  It sounded relatively safe.  "I'm glad we're friends, though.  And, ... of course!  I won't - that'd just seem strange."  Somehow, charging Neely to spend time together studying would just feel weird.  It wasn't like Sasha didn't already consider the activity somewhat of a casual past time.  "So, your mother really does charity work in South America?  That must be really cool.  Have you ever been?"  How incredible would that be?  South America.  He spent plenty of time in Europe but hadn't really ventured beyond there. 

"I ... you mean, go shopping?"  Presumably, that's what Neely meant.  Sasha doubted she went foraging for presents, after all.  "That'd be fun.  Especially since, well I figure you shop in Diagon or some place like that."  Meaning, not muggle.  Granted, his internship helped Sasha maintain more of a connection with the magical world than most summers but, even still, he rarely passed up an opportunity to return.  And, there was something that sounded potentially amusing about exploring some magical corner of London with Neely.  "Was your uncle poor?"  It seemed remarkable, considering who he was talking to.  Somehow, it seemed hard to imagine there was some impoverished side-line of the Woolfolk family tree.  But, "how ... how ... do garden gnomes have galleons?"  How could garden gnomes really help someone double their fortune?  Unless, that person's fortune consisted of 10 sickles and a gnome had borrowed someone's niffler and found a matching set of 10 silver coins. 

Sasha smiled quietly, nodding his head even though Neely lacked eyes in the back of his head.  He assumed though he'd heard girls could see more than boys did.  "Jacoba was always pretty reasonable," Sasha voiced.  "Sometimes, I think she'd even be proud of this ... what I am.  You know.  She'd probably be excited.  But, there's no way she would have been at the game."  Each time Sasha found himself standing alone on platform 9 3/4, watching all the families bid their children farewell or welcome, he always wondered if, were she to know, she might have been there seeing him off to school.  Or, venturing curiously into Diagon Alley to help him with his school shopping.  But, Jacoba kept her distance from the family as best she could, now.  Sasha wasn't even sure the last time his older sister had spoken with her father.  "I love her, I know she wants to support me, but she went off on her own as soon as she turned 18.  The last postcard I got, she was in Belgium."   Though Jacoba would never demonstrate the fashion sense that Neely possessed, Sasha couldn't help but suspect that the two might get along.  It certainly couldn't have been worse than how things had gone with Anna.  "I hope you get to meet her someday." 

"Alright," he agreed, grinning.  "We'll have late night cocoa and words.  I'll be sure to come back prepared with chocolate and my grandmother's cocoa recipe.  It'll be fun." 

Sasha shook his head and opened his mouth to point out to Neely that she was overlooking an important detail.  They weren't dating.  It shouldn't have mattered what Anna thought about them dating because they weren't.  But before he could point that out, Neely launched into a strange and confusing rant.  His mouth snapped shut and he flinched slightly.  Despite his best efforts, he just couldn't understand how the truth could 'ruin everything.'  But, something become painfully clear.  "You're ... you're jealous?"  Sasha stammered, incredulously.  In his surprise, the question had come out before he could think twice about it.  Neely Woolfolk was jealous of Hannah Steinberg.  What shape would tea leaves have to take on the bottom of a teacup to predict this occurrence?  An exploding universe?  "Of Hannah?  Because Anna likes her?"  It made absolutely no sense.  How could someone be jealous of someone who was a figment of his imagination.  And Neely of all people - she always seemed so impervious to jealousy.  "But ... Neely.  She ... she doesn't exist!  You're - how can - you have money.  You have shoes - you have feet to put shoes on!  She has nothing to be jealous of!  She ... how can you be jealous of her?  I ... you understand what she is, right?  I mean, I named her after a mutant that eats bugs!" 

"Yes, you are" Sasha said, forcefully, though still a bit of disbelief in his voice.  How could she think he thought any different.  He wasn't conceited enough to think that any fictitious person could be better than her.  "Neely.  You're not ... you're not understanding right.  Hannah's not ... My first summer home, Gerhard asked me if there was 'anyone of value' at school.  I wanted to impress him - I wanted him to approve and I told him exactly what he wanted to hear.  It just grew.  Hannah's what he wants. I don't ..."  Professor Greyfriar had asked Sasha why he hadn't told anyone at school about his home scenario.  He almost wished he could have a camera so he could understand.  This was exactly why.  It was humiliating.  "I'd probably get along well with someone like Hannah but ... I don't know.  Neely.  I couldn't ... If I was actually dating someone who was legitimately great in science, I'd be in trouble.  My family already wonders how I manage to pass my science classes whenever they ask me about my studies.  I tried to keep up with Chemistry as much as I could last year but ... There's a reason I made up someone that didn't exist rather than lying about someone at school."  He sighed.  He wasn't sure he was making things better.  "Neely, I'm really sorry.  I didn't want you to be hurt.  And, don't worry about that.  They're usually disappointed.  Besides, he's already bought my ticket for Austria so I think he's content thinking things will go back to normal.  I ... oh." 

Sasha blinked.  She'd wanted to kiss him.  Color flooded his face as a slight grin turned up the corners of his mouth.  "So.  You hadn't left because you were because I ... you know ... kissed you."  That, alone, helped lift some of the weight from his shoulders.  "It was better than getting kissed by Ava." 

He chuckled, pleased to see that her uneasiness about the horse had faded and she was enjoying herself.  Quite frequently, when he got so caught up in the details of shows and competition, Sasha forgot how amazing and fun just taking a pleasant ride could be.  She seemed to be doing well and was growing more comfortable with the activity.  "Well, you are only scratching the surface," he pointed out.  "They have more than one speed and he's got some exciting tricks up his ... well, not sleeves.  But, you know what I mean." 

Wobias tossed his head, shuffling some when Neely's hands jerked slightly on the reins but settled down readily.  "The house elves keep an eye out for it."  It was still, perhaps, possible someone would take it but it seemed unlikely.  Even during the summer, the tower was restricted to other Ravenclaws.  "And, I got along just fine without a wand for eleven years.  In a year and a half, it won't matter anymore."  He'd be seventeen.  It would be an entirely new situation.  Sasha let out a long, deep sigh, nodding his head.  There hadn't been much time to give much of an explanation beyond telling Neely his family didn't know.  They'd had only a few moments before Anna had joined the conversation and there'd been no time after the match to clarify.  "If Gerhard ever found my wand and even guessed what it might be about, he'd snap it himself.  The first time they came to deliver my letter, he got so angry.  I don't know what he would have done if they hadn't modified his memory.  I don't know what they'd do if they actually found out.  They might send me off like Jacoba or, maybe, just kick me out.  I don't really know."

He, of course, recognized their path immediately and was quite relieved Neely had opted against making a beeline for his mother.  Wobias stepped over a narrow ditch along the side of the driveway and, as they neared a wooden gate along the fence line, he gently took the reins from Neely's hand.  He guided the horse alongside the gate so he could grab the latch and let them through the gate, closing it behind them.  He turned the horse's head towards the north east before slipping the reins back in Neely's hand. 

Sasha wasn't the only one who was surprised that Neely was interested in him, or being friends with him. It was surprising to the Woolfolk girl herself, who tended to gravitate toward, well, Slytherins (to simplify the qualifications). "I can be surprising," she said, sounding rather impressed with both of them, as opposed to scoffing at Sasha's confession, which she might have done on any given day. Since they were being truthful, and all... Neely wasn't always the easiest person to get along with. Not that she saw it this way. She just had standards, and, luckily, Sasha had managed to meet them with flying colors in his own strange, Ravenclaw way. She didn't know why she wanted to be friends with someone so unlike herself, but there they were. "Well," she said, emphasizing the word and pausing for some combination of diluted dramatic effect, mild fatigue, and desire for more time. "She goes to South America a lot for... various reasons." That didn't sound too vague or suspicious, did it? "But she does devote time when she has it." And she had more of it than she devoted, but that was only a technical and unnecessary bit of information. Neely found herself wanting to impress the boy. "I haven't, but I was talking to Tulojow-- when we were with L.G., you know-- and she said we should organize a Hogwarts field trip sometime. My mum tells me all about it," she added quickly, just in case he thought she knew nothing about South America. Neely know nothing about a subject? Ha!

Shopping. The word made her heart sing. She grinned and nodded quickly, enthusiastically. She was glad (even relieved) to hear Sasha though it was fun, because so many people looked at shopping as a laborious activity that Neely felt it deserved its own awareness campaign. "Mmhmm. Magique Couture, and Madam Adair's boutique, too. And there's this great place squeezed between the bookstore and a teashop that just opened. It's sort of like appointment only," she said, with an air of mystery that was more befitting a Divination professor. "I was thinking, though... maybe I shouldn't get her clothes." It was a very Massive Decision, but Neely though the number 15 deserved something even more special (if that was possible). It was practically 17! And Jordyn was definitely, definitely getting a shiny new prefect badge. Double gifts! "You don't go to Diagon Alley often, do you?" She added, tilting her head and trying to fathom a summer holiday that didn't involve London's bustling wizard culture in all of its glory. At least Sasha was well-dressed and got to see his horses whenever he pleased, though. Giggling and placing a hand over her heart, as if he'd just asked the silliest question in the history of other, Neely immediately adopted her original point of view that Sasha was an overly naive lamb. "No," she said simply. "He just doubled what already had. But I mean-- we're a lot better off now. My dad's sort of a genius." Her uncle, on the other hand, was just a loveable man with too much whiskey in his cabinet and luck on his side. "The garden gnome told him how to get rid of them... so he marketed the idea and sold it as a product."

Neely couldn't help but reflect his smile, mildly and sincerely, when he spoke of his older sister. She sounded like a Merlinsend compared to Anna. "Couldn't an owl find her?" She encouraged, as if it were the simplest plan. "You could tell her the truth and maybe she'd right back-- I mean, if you think she'd be proud, why not just do it?" She blinked. It seemed so simple to her. "Or I bet there's some sort of spell for finding muggles..." She mused aloud, now letting her brain race in several directions. If they went shopping, perhaps she'd convince Sasha to peruse the dodgier of the two bookstores in Diagon Alley. Surely there were spellbooks in there that one couldn't find in the Hogwarts library, at least not without written permission. Then again, he was a good enough student to gain access to the Restricted Section without question. It was only a matter of teaching Sasha that lying was perfectly reasonable when it didn't involve telling your family that you were attending school in Switzerland with invisible girlfriends. "It would be cool," she admitted. "To meet a sister who doesn't want to get married to Hannah when you're done with her."

With the promise of cocoa, and the presumption that Sasha would break a rule or two, Neely's spirits were already higher. They'd been a pendulum this past week, and even today itself. The next topic, for example, swung things in the other direction...

If there was ever time to blush (outside of what had happened last week, or today when Sasha found out she couldn't ride horses to save Harry Potter's life), it was now. Neely did her best to battle it, so that cheeks turned slightly blotchy, as if her makeup had been ill applied. Luckily, he couldn't exactly see her face. "No," she scoffed. "Why would I be jealous?" But it was a weak retort, and probably obvious, even to Mr. Gullible himself. "I just think it's unfair." What was that, about being on a truth kick? She'd already forgotten in her effort to deny a green jealousy. Green only looked good when it was making other people jealous. Thus, the esteemed house of Salazar. She sighed. "Girls don't like being not liked, Sasha. I mean, why does Anna have to be so in loooove with Hannah when she hasn't even met her? I was way nice. I'm completely impressive!" She argued, trying to convince herself as much as him. It was true, wasn't it? She didn't question it very often. "Why couldn't she just like me and think that I'm good for you? Or why couldn't you have told her Hannah was gone?" A reasonable demand, naturally. "I mean, why did you have to--" She'd been on the verge of repeating herself, wondering why Hannah was the character she was. But... "A mutant?" Her face twisted in disgust, but underneath it, there was delight. Somewhere between Sasha pointing out her galleons and stilettos and the fact that there was no logical reason for someone like Neely to be jealous, it had sunk in slightly. She was, as happened on multiple occasions, slightly pacified. And very curious.

The further explanation calmed her more, and, secretly, made Neely very happy. Not only was she better than Hannah, but apparently Hannah wasn't Sasha's cup of cocoa. It was good to know, because she had no plans to turn into a boring chemist. "Oh..." She said, somewhat awkwardly, but clearly trying to sound reasonable and satisfied with the answer. "That's a lot of trouble to go through just for him." She couldn't help thinking-- or admitting it. "You do all of that extra work, on top of being good at everything at Hogwarts?" It was a marvel. Interning was one thing, extra subjects... muggle subjects, when Neely already had trouble wrapping her head around the basics, like the fact that potions did not exist and instead people studied the tiny cells inside of animals or mixed things for no reason at all, other than to be studious... was baffling and impressive. How did anyone find the time? When did he get to shop or holiday on the beach or go to parties? Silently, she accepted his apology, and even felt rather guilty for berating him. "So what do they think happened to me if you're going back? Do you have to go back? What are you going to do in Austria?!" It was things like this that made Neely forget just as easily that Hannah was a figment of his imagination. It was crazy, thinking of Sasha all alone in Austria, wandering around while his stepfather waited at home thinking that the right girl would be back in their lives, tipping the social scales in their favor once more.

"No, I was just confused and sort of mad at you... You'd be mad at you, too," she insisted. Then again, if Sasha had been in Neely's place, he probably would not have dared to involve himself in any of her fake friendships, let alone suggest to Neely's family that he'd stolen her from another boy. "But not too mad. I really did like the game and I was going to stay. But..." She hadn't known whether he'd liked the kiss, either, which was one of the last things she wanted to admit outloud. Neely was supposed to be kissable, wasn't she? Apparently she was. Though Sasha had not said as much, what he did say was better by her own reasoning. Better than Ava. He might not have meant it in the way she thought, he might have meant to add an 'at least' in there somewhere, but he may as well have told her that she could outsell Arius on a September cover. She turned her head to the side a bit, trying to peak him again, and feeling rather thrilled. "So it was good?" She asked, assuming that's what he'd meant. It was easier to word it plainly now that Ava had come back into the equation. "I know yours was supposed to be pretend, so I wouldn't hex you or make your sister suspicious," she added, trying to sound mature. "But I thought maybe it wasn't, because we could have just made it seem like we were-- and... it was nice." It hadn't been something she'd envisioned, like she did with so many older boys whom she really didn't know at all, but the kiss had been almost better than those daydreams in its own way, because it had been very real. "I told you, Ava knew your were kissable," she added, smirking a little to herself before concentrating on the reins.

Even if Neely was only moving as quick as a one-legged house elf burdened with the empty pumpkin juice goblets of fifty thirsty O.W.L. students, she still felt as if she were doing something exceptionally dangerous and therefore exciting. Riding horses. It was like a novel or one of those films or something. Or being good at brooms, but on the ground. Maybe she could convince Tulojow to let them ride L.G... "What kind of tricks?" She asked, wanting to know if the horse was going to jump over a fence while they were still on it, or perhaps run headfirst at the house and ram through Anna's wardrobe (wishful thinking).

She didn't know whether she would trust the school elves with her wand. Certainly they were too terrified to do anything bad to it, but they weren't wizards. And wands were their own, special circumstance. Even shoes couldn't quite compare. Wands were like an extension of the soul. "I hope you were stern with them," she said warily. "I bet you're one of those people who are way too nice to them, so they don't know you're serious about wanting to keep something safe. No offense," she added. "It's good that you're nice, but..." He was sort of a pushover. Allowing Neely to get away with getting rid of Hannah (if only for a while) was a prime example. He was going to bloody Austria just to fix her little white lie! And he hadn't even kicked her out of his house. Er, yard. "Right, but... if your house catches on fire, or if Tony gets caught in a flood, or your horse runs away... don't you want to be able to fix it, even if you can't tell your family?" She cringed at the idea of his stepfather getting his hands on it. It was terrible. "They can't kick you out!" She protested. Parents were supposed to cave to their children's whims, eventually. That was why they were parents! "Oh my golly, Sasha, he's put up with you this long, right? He must care, he's just being a big baby about it. If he sent you away, you could just escape. I still think should find your sister. I know some people who know some people who run hotels--" She stopped. Was she getting in over her head, offering such help? They were friends now, but was it socially acceptable to help a Ravenclaw turn himself into a delinquent? It probably wasn't smart, to get so involved.

As they headed through the gates, Neely looked down at the back of his hands on the reins and thought it was sort of funny that he was so good at this, and seemingly everything else, but he was trapped, too. She was the opposite, really. "Do you ever try to play that game where you tip over all the cows?" She asked wildly. She'd heard some sixth years bragging about doing that (with wands, of course). "That's sort of mean to the cows." But, she couldn't help the comical image it put in her mind. "It's so weird that they sleep in lines!" She was, of course, assuming all cows did the same thing. Trying to lighten the mood, Neely played with the reigns, hoping to make them go faster. Unfortunately, she was a bit too ardent...

Despite himself, a small snort of a laugh escaped Sasha and he shook his head.  As sarcastic as Neely was capable of being, in the relatively short time Sasha had known her now, understatements were hardly a common occurrence.  But, she was surprising and, especially for the highly gullible likes of him, rather unpredictable.  Perhaps it was that novelty that intrigued him so much about her.  Or, it might have been the persistent presence of things happening that were so different - so much more exciting - than his normal, quiet, always-playing-by-the-rules routine.  "Yes," he agreed, simply, though even as he said it, he was quite aware that he was pleased to have been surprised.  He still readily questioned how he, of all people, could have 'made the cut' when it came to Neely Woolfolk and he'd probably question that far too readily for quite some time but, "I'm glad."  As usual, the hesitation was lost on him and, had she had eyes in the back of her head, Neely would have seen the impressed nod Sasha gave her.  "That would be remarkable!" he breathed.  "South America.  I'd love to go.  I bet it's amazing.  We ... we might be going there for fieldtrips?  That would be-"  He suddenly grew quiet as reality caught up with him.  "It'd be fun if you get to go," he said, quietly, more reserved.  If they required signed permission slips for students to go to Hogsmeade, it was almost guaranteed they'd need one for a field trip to South America.  Which meant, as usual, he'd probably be staying behind. 

"Doesn't she buy pretty much all the clothes she wants?"  Sasha turned his attention to the more promising prospects of a shopping trip through Diagon Alley.  "It always seems like presents should be unique.  You know?  Something someone wouldn't buy for themselves."  And, those kind of things seemed to be the ones that Sasha would want to explore.  Other than robes, clothes really didn't vary much between the muggle and mundane worlds.  "Like a book.  Or wait, no.  Probably not.  I'm not sure.  Or, maybe ... isn't she in divination?"  Actually, shopping for someone you didn't know was harder than one might think.  Especially when Sasha really only knew the shops he could race into before catching the Hogwarts Express.  "I've been a lot more this summer, since I catch the Knight Bus from the Leaky Cauldron but I don't have a lot of time to just explore.  And, the one day I had some free time, I ended up running into Mr. Annwyl.  It was strange."  Actually, it was terrifying - at least at first.  Sasha had been so distracted, so disoriented by stupid ponderings, he just hadn't expected to look up and find the Minister of Magic standing there.  "Most of the time, I just tell my family my train for Paris leaves at 8:30 - it usually gives me enough time to grab my school supplies before catching the Hogwarts Express." 

Sasha scowled at the back of Neely's head.  It hadn't seemed like a foolish question - but that explanation did make a lot of sense.  "So, how did he get rid of gnomes?"  Sasha asked.  "Are gnomes really that big of a problem?  They look kind of cute.  Dumb, but cute."  He'd always wondered how garden gnomes knew the yard they'd taken residence in belonged to a wizarding family.  He'd never seen them around the estate but maybe they were just good at hiding. 

"Probably."  At first, the vague and rather non-committal answer was all he offered.  He'd considered owling his sister before - of course, doing so in itself would be a confession.  But, a not small amount of fear and hesitation always stopped him.  As much as he blindly believed Jacoba would accept him as a wizard, facing the lies alone, he'd always found it easier to believe the two worlds just had to be kept at arm's reach from each other.  He'd always been able to reason himself out of writing Jacoba.  And, that small voice of doubt didn't help, either.  When it came to explaining to someone else, the reasonings sounded weaker and weaker.  "I considered it a couple times.  I really kind of want to.  But, I always chickened out.  I'm a wimp.  I just always talked myself out of it."  There were few things that would make him feel better than telling his sister and having the confession draw her back home to support him.  But, his own insecurities always stayed his hand.  He, genuinely, laughed at Neely's comment about Hannah and his sisters, shaking his head.  "I think Jacoba would hate Hannah." 

"I have no idea why you'd be jealous of Hannah.  That's my point," Sasha said, pointedly, too fast to allow reason to convince him to keep his mouth shut.  But, shouldn't his previous confusion had made that clear?  But, despite her unconvincing denial of jealousy, Neely launched into a vigorous rant.  Sasha grew very quiet and watched Neely warily as he chewed his lip slightly.  While she'd explained the source of her anger, he still didn't quite understand the why nor was he sure how things, really, could have gone differently.  He hadn't expected Anna to so readily assume he was seeing Neely and he was fairly certain that it would have never occurred to him to convince his sister that they were together (especially without having discussed it with Neely).  Lying about him dating a made up girl was one thing - presuming he could claim he was dating a popular Slytherin girl while she was standing right there required far more chutzpah than Sasha could even dream of having.  Why couldn't he have said Hannah was gone?  "Because it's complicated," he argued, though, immediately wished he possessed the ability to eat his words.  "She thinks a lot like he does.  And, he ... you're ... Neely, please don't - please don't make me explain why they don't like you."  It sounded like an impossible and unpleasant conversation all around.  It seemed unlikely any good could come of it.  "I like you - can't that be enough?"

"Well, it's for him and my mother.  But, he's definitely more concerned than she is."  Sasha shrugged.  "Well, I wouldn't say I'm all that good at that other extra stuff.  It's a miracle I convince them that I'm passing my supposed other classes.  I wish they had some of those ... you know ... time turner things that were all destroyed?  It'd help a lot.  I don't know how next year's going to go, though, with OWLs."  Yes.  Neely was prone to being exciting and surprising and posing obviously dangerous questions.  What was she wanting?  What was she expecting him to say?  He sighed and shook his head and offered the truth.  "That you'll get angry - or frustrated - or it won't matter if I get back together with Hannah.  I ... well, I have to go to Germany.  We'll be there most of the second half of the summer - though I'll be traveling a lot of horse shows.  I don't know what I'll do in Austria.  There's a show in Vienna at the start of that weekend.  Then, figure out what I'm going to say when I get back." 

Was it good?  He blushed again as he grinned slightly at his hands.  He didn't have a lot to compare the kiss to - he wasn't the most qualified to provide a critical review of the kiss.  All he had to compare it to was that one with Ava and for entirely illogical and inexplicable reasons, he much preferred kissing Neely.  Of course, the massive audience, the dumb-founded surprise and horribly loosing the game probably contributed to the assessment.  "I liked it.  I'd much rather be kissing you than Ava," if that clarified it.  Sasha had to listen closely to follow what Neely was saying, certain that the general confusion was contributing to what seemed to be generally convoluted logic.  So, she'd been uncertain about the nature and the meaning of the kiss, too.  Sasha had spent his share of evenings pondering that very question - Sasha had found himself questioning whether he'd have done the same thing regardless of who'd been standing there with her arms around his neck.  It had almost seemed easier than it should have been.  And, he couldn't deny knowing Neely found him kissable as well made him grin. 

"Well, it's mostly stuff for shows," Sasha confessed, hoping it didn't sound disappointing.  "Changes of pace and making longer and shorter strides.  Like, jogging without moving forward or walking sideways.  That kind of thing.  He does a little jumping but not as much - I do most of my jumping with the white horse that was back in the stables."  Compared to thestrals and quidditch, it probably wasn't nearly as exciting but Sasha still found it hard to imagine giving up horses, even after he finished Hogwarts.  "But, just as much, I love just riding through the countryside, you know?  Especially back at my grandparent's, I love riding out into the mountains and even go camping if I can get away with it.  It's very pretty back there." 

Sasha could, definitely, understand Neely's hesitation and surprise completely - each year it got harder and harder to leave his wand and supplies behind.  It felt more and more like leaving a good friend behind.   But, he knew it was necessary.  And, he did trust the elves with it.  "Of course I wasn't," Sasha said, probably confirming whatever thought would follow her 'but...'  "They aren't bad.  I actually feel better about leaving it knowing that Zimpy checks it every day.  He's very nice and does a good job cleaning the dorm."  On a few occasions, when Sasha had been studying in the common room long after everyone else had gone to bed, the little tufty-haired elf would come baring a late night snack.  And, after Sasha's second year, the little elf had started personally ensuring Sasha he'd check the wand daily.  "Muggles survive all of that without wands," Sasha pointed out.  "They aren't helpless, you know.  It may be harder, but all those things can be fixed without magic."  Really, Sasha didn't know what Gerhard would do.  He knew the man would be furious and would, somehow, blame this on Sasha's birth father.  "He sent my sister away without a second thought - and she was his daughter," Sasha pointed out, quietly.  "I'm a boy.  And, most of our muggle acquaintances think I'm Gerhard's son.  So, I'm supposed to be the heir - that's what everyone thinks.  He'd try very hard to fix it, I think."  Like he was trying to fix things with Hannah.  Though it was one of those surprising things coming from Neely, Sasha didn't immediately think Neely's offer was outrageous.  "They'd let me stay?" he asked.  Back up plans were never a bad idea.

"Cow tipping?"  Sasha asked with a laugh.  It was strange what elements of muggle culture wound up in the realm of magical understanding.  Apparently, myths and urban legends had their own representation.  "That's a myth.  Cows are heavy and hard to sneak up on.  And, they don't sleep standing up.  At least, I've always seen them sleeping lying down.  It's hard to tip over a cow that's already lying down."  Whether witches and wizards had managed to accomplish such endeavors, Sasha didn't know.  "Our just sleep wherever," Sasha pointed out.  Under Neely's unsteady hands, Wobias strides lengthened and he tossed his head slightly.  Assuming urging the horse to go faster had been an intentional move, Sasha reached his arms around Neely again and gently closed his hands around hers to steady them.  "Just squeeze your calves, but leave just a little light pressure on his mouth," Sasha said.  Before Neely had an opportunity to clarify or protest, he nudged the horse forward into a gentle canter. 

Pleased and somewhat relieved to hear that Sasha liked that she was surprising-- Sasha, of all people-- Neely wanted to make sure that the discussion on South America continued to impress. She was on a high horse again (quite literally, too). But, then, how many people didn't like her adorable, Neely-ish element of surprise? Only the lame ones. Sasha didn't need to be put on that list. "What!" She scoffed, rolling her eyes at the pretty stretch of land ahead. "Is this because you're lying to your mum and dad? Why can't you just lie some more? You obviously don't mind too much..." She pointed out, falling easily into the role of Devil's Advocate. She might have railed against him for hiding his wizardry (and it might have also had something to do with a little cretin called Hannah), but Neely didn't think things like permission slips were worth missing a holiday in the tropical rainforest. There were rumors of springs that turned one's skin to fleshy flawlessness. "There are forgery quills that you can buy, you know. And there's this boy in seventh year who can forge anything," she gushed. "I mean anything."

Sasha had a point. Jordyn could buy what she wanted. But wasn't that why Neely should do it for her? Pick something on her wishlist and let Jordyn cross it out without setting foot outside. The labor of shopping was underestimated. Still, she'd been thinking for a while not of deviating from the usual plan, and Sasha's words made it more tempting. Except... "Books?" She pushed her lips to the side. "She is kind of a genius, but I wouldn't know where to begin. Unless it's that new collectible hardback on the wizarding period fashion! It's got satin lining and the cover changes with the seasons." It made her excited, discussing books with actual Neely-fied substance. "Divination? Mmm... I've got sort of a thing for divination," she said, her voice suddenly growing misty, a touch spooky. It returned to its usual state of chirpy teenaged girl when Sasha mentioned the Minister. "I think we could find her a special book, though."

"You ran into the Minister of Magic? Wait, on the Knight Bus?!" This was almost scandalous. Didn't he have an army of bodyguards? Or a mistress in big sunglasses? Or a private Floo off the maps? "That's a lot of shopping to do in two hours-- I mean, I could totally do it because I know London like I know shoes, but I'd have a meltdown trying to lug around all of those schoolbooks." Even in her charmed purse. "And dodging kids." She frowned. "You really do manage, don't you?" It wasn't much of a question this time; she was almost marvelled. She'd never thought of Sasha as this conniving type who could lie to his whole family, make a smooth exit, and then tie all of the strings in the wave of a wand, so to speak. He seemed more the type of boy who bought his school things the day summer holiday started-- or at least the ones that he knew without consulting a list. "Have you ever had to run after the train?" She giggled. She'd seen a few stragglers do that; it was tragic. Neely and her friends always had a compartment ready for ages. There were two options: stake your claim, or sink. For Slytherins, it wasn't a choice.

Neely shrugged. "That part's boring because it's a household thing now. I always tune out. I've never de-gnomed a garden. Have you?" She looked around the land again and smile, shaking her head. "There can't be any gnomes here. They'd drive your horses to Azkaban. Or maybe they're just hiding far away from the barn. Has your mother seen any?" Were gnomes a problem? Well, technically-- "Of course they're a problem! They eat everything pretty and they keep weeds as borough decoration. Little prats." Also, tacky. If she squinted, though, or spent too much time staring at her neon glow crystal ball, Neely might have the temporary vision impairment to admit that they were cute. Perhaps it was an inherently raised-by-wizards thing, to be perpetually annoyed by all things gnome.

Tilting her head in reflection-- again, even if Sasha couldn't exactly see her from the front-- Neely tried to make sense of it. Neither of them were Gryffindors, but she felt the lions were largely overrated. Anyone could be brave. Really, it was just a matter of using one's ego and letting other people know who you were and who they were. It was a bit more of a challenge, to pinpoint who Sasha was, she'd come to realize. But still... "I'll do it for you," she insisted. "Just stop thinking about it so much and do it! It's like when you find a gorgeous pair of shoes and you think maybe you shouldn't buy them because a better pair will be out after the resort collection-- why not buy both pairs?" It was the only answer. "Just tell your sister what you are and if she thinks it's upsetting, tell her she's upsetting." Perhaps the example didn't quite correlate with the advice, but to Neely, it was a perfect explanation. She felt another surge of happiness, upon hearing that Sasha's older sister wouldn't like Hannah. That made two Schlagenweits on her side.

The fact that he didn't believe her (halfhearted, last effort) lie was a little unsettling. Neely heaved her shoulders, even as her fingers played with the reigns. It was easier to pass off the sigh as Sasha's own misunderstanding than Neely's resignation to being caught, though the latter scenario was closer to the truth. "Because you shouldn't fancy invisible people when real ones are standing right there," she continued. She was possibly talking in circles now, but at least she was being more honest and direct, too.

Sasha's own explanation to her barrage of questions was no more satisfying. Pursing her lips so that her cheeks bunched like a fussy toddler's, she refused to acknowledge yet another of his trademark replies. 'It's complicated' was slowly giving 'I'm sorry' a run for its galleons. It was hard to swallow, the idea that someone wouldn't like her at all-- even harder to accept than the idea that someone might prefer another girl. Certainly matters of taste differed, and Neely could usually conceded that with a roll of her eyes and some murmuring. She did it everyday, didn't she? She pointed out other people's faults. But being told that someone wouldn't like her because she was her, and not because she wasn't Hannah, was even more infuriating... and, well, a bit stinging. She breathed fast, in a sniff, and a shrugged. Finally, she nodded. It was enough that Sasha liked her, but it was oddly hard to admit in her state of stubbornness. "Yes... I guess... for now." She tried to play it cool. She would have to work on the rest of his family; Neely felt she was too infectiously Neelyish to dislike, unless there was something incurable about the ones doing the disliking. She turned her face a little bit once more and raised an inquiring brow. She was smiling. "But do you like me a lot? Like when you're on the train to Hannah's rubbish house, will you send me owls about how much you can't stand her?" She tested him. "We could talk about Hogwarts, too," she added, as a sort of afterthough. "And horses." And... "Oh! You could pretend you're being forced to travel far away by your evil stepfather-- which you sort of are-- like in that story about the Chimneyella girl, but that you really like the Pretty Princess of the wizarding world-- that's me-- and that you have to send her secret code letters to stay sane. We can use invisible ink. I have it in iridescent purple, it's gorgeous."

He was right, she was jealous, and a little angry that he was going to such lengths to please his silly stepfather (and faked Miss Woolfolk herself), but deep down, she knew he hadn't a choice. As often as Neely walked all over her own parents, there were certain things she had to do because she was their daughter. They hadn't asked her to get rid of any secret boyfriends to get with others, so she couldn't relate to that particular scenario. She did wonder if Sasha's grumpy step-dad felt a little bad for Neely. It was the least he could do! As for all of the chemistry nonsense, she would save it for later. Maybe a letter. Her mind wasn't patient enough now. She was impressed, anyone would be, that Sasha managed to do brilliantly in school and fool his whole family into thinking he was doing well in another set of subjects.

Neely was still feeling floaty at the idea of being a better kisser than Ava. Coupled with the admiration she felt for Sasha's juggling of so many things that didn't directly involve retail spending, she was beginning to have the inkling that maybe she hadn't simply liked the kiss because it was a kiss, or even just because Sasha was obviously kissable. She liked Sasha, and not just in the will-you-tutor-me-in-muggle-studies-and-show-me-how-to-ride-horses-let's-be-awkwardly-paired-friends way. She'd begun to realize it several days ago, but she hadn't thought to really dwell on that being the reason for the funny twists in her stomach. "Me too," she babbled, and then caught herself. "Not that I want to kiss myself instead of kissing Ava." She could do that in front of mirrors, on her own time. "Or kiss Ava at all," she added, giggling. She was enamored with the older girl, but not in that sense. She wanted to be like her. "But I'd rather, you know..." Kiss Sasha instead of Ava? Well, obviously. And she would rather Sasha kiss her than Ava, too. It was the quite the cashmere knit spider web of scenarios, and it only involved three people!

Though only a moment ago, Neely had been terrified of falling on her bum and proving to Sasha that she was hopeless with horses, she was now excited to try out the things that none of their schoolmates could do. "Oooh!" It was as he'd read her mind... well, sort of. She'd still need to brush him up on his Divination, she thought. "But this one still jumps," she insisted, neglecting the fact that the other horse might be more capable, or, rather, that Sasha was more comfortable jumping with the other. "Can we jump over some bushes? The hedge? Maybe a puddle?" She suggested. "Or do you have bars and loops and things?" Golly, why hadn't she fished the antique camera and a tube of purple smoke out of the back of her wardrobe? Sasha's next words settled in, at last, amidst Neely's newfound excitement, and she found her own sudden mile-a-minute thought process slowing like a rolling coin. She looked around the grounds again. She supposed, even without an abundance of shoe stores, it was lovely. "Mmhmm... it's like one of those little Bed and Breakfast brochures... except your house is much bigger." It was a compliment, Neely-style.

Neely listened, blinking. Muggles did survive without wands, it was true, but that was only because they didn't know wands existed. If she'd been a muggle who discovered the secret, she'd be ragingly jealous, and then probably depressed. In that sense, she almost couldn't blame Sasha for not telling his family. "But you aren't a muggle," she pointed out. "It's sort of like... wearing really old shoes when you own new ones." Profound. "Anyway, at least you'll have it when you're seventeen. I can't wait to Apparate. Proper apparating, not side-along." There was a huge difference, and Neely never failed to bemoan. "That's pretty terrible what he did to her... and, why not? ... Like I said, they know me. We'd need to come up a better reason than your dad is a big meanie, but..." She waved her hand with a flourish, indicating it was no problem. Or now it wasn't. Four months ago, such a suggestion, referring Sasha to people who could help him out of a potentially explosive situation, would have been unthinkable.

Neely didn't believe it. Cow tipping was absolutely real. She'd seen it done! She'd seen illustrations, anyway. Muggle illustrations that had been charmed to move when reprinted in wizarding texts. She'd come across the fascinating passtime when plowing through encyclopedias for a final essay on muggle pop culture. "I've totally seen animals that look like cows sleep standing! And how hard could it be? They don't look that smart. And you're tall. You could probably do it with a running start when they're standing there daydreaming about grass and milk and biscuits." She wasn't going to give up.

Even while she was a little caught off guard by the sudden movement, Neely obeyed and squeezed her calves, excited to try another 'trick'. They'd taken off, though, before she could really do it properly. Eyes wide, she let out a nervous breath of laughter and squeezed a hand around the reign under Sasha's own grasp, to make sure she didn't go flying off like an owl. She wiggled her opposite fingers to entwine them his-- not really of fear, but because she wanted to.

"Actually, I really don't like lying," Sasha corrected, gently, for the sake of argument.  It was, after all, a bit of a moot and irrelevant point.  It made little difference whether he was alright with it - the lies would be there anyway.  There was, really, not a lot of choice but he had learned to accept it - perhaps, tolerate was the better word for it.  "But, yes, it's because - well, because of all of that.  And, it isn't really ... lying more won't really work.  I don't think.  Professor Greyfriar knows about all of this and I'm sure my Head of House does, too. If I walked up and handed them a signed permission slip, don't you think they'd realize there was no way my parents could have signed it?"  Lying in order to get into Hogsmeade had, no doubt, crossed Sasha's mind before.  The summer between his second and third year, when the prospects of going into the village had loomed large, Sasha had, actually, photocopied his stepfather's signature onto the permission slip, counting on it being unlikely the wizarding school officials would recognize the signs of such a muggle tactic.  But, before he'd handed the page over, he'd reminded himself none of their professors were exactly idiots.  "But, I'll be 17 in a year and a half," he offered encouragingly - as much for her benefit as his own.

Again, Sasha's eyebrows danced up in a fleeting expression of surprise.  Of all their classes, it was Divination that was Neely's strength?  And, Jordyn was the proclaimed genius of their group.  For a moment, Sasha couldn't help feeling like in the few hours he found himself around Neely, he had become privy to more of the inside Hogwarts gossip than he had in his past four years there.  "Divination?  Really?  So, all that tea leaves stuff actually works for you?  You see more things than-" Wait.  She likes divination.  Even if Divination was, definitely, not his stronger suit, perhaps describing the divining tea leaves on the bottom of tea cup as a soggy clump of swamp muck wasn't the best approach to take.  "All I saw was a cup that needed to be washed.  Maybe coffee grounds work better for Germans," he muttered aloud.  "Or, maybe I should be coming to you for tutoring." 

"Oh no!  He wasn't on the Knight Bus."  As much as Sasha would like to think the idea of looking up on the Knight Bus and spotting the Minister of Magic sitting next to him would be unbelievably surreal, it wasn't like finding him standing there in Flourish and Blotts was any less so.  "It was in Flourish and Blotts.  I'd ducked in to check something on my way home."  She wouldn't have seen the passive shrug and nod but he wasn't sure a whirlwind of shopping was, really, that impressive.  "Yeah, most years, I have to run.  It's not that bad, usually.  I've always managed to find a seat somewhere."  And, then, most of the ride was spent leafing through the books he'd spent months waiting to see.  Most of the time, Sasha was so grateful to be on his way back to school, he was happy to have whatever seat he could find. 

Sasha shook his head.  It was pretty safe to say that he hadn't ever degnomed a garden nor had his mother every seen one.  If anything small and pudgy started eating her garden and placing weeds in its place, Sasha was sure he'd have heard the furious complaining.  Glancing over her shoulder, back in the direction of the estate gardens, Sasha was pretty confident no gnomes had taken residence there.  "Unless they can use magic, I'm pretty sure Baldur would get any that wandered here."  Despite his uneasy nerves, Sasha couldn't help chuckling and shaking his head slightly.  Just stop thinking so much?  Was that even humanly possible for him?  But, perhaps a little impulsive support, like the brand one was no doubt bound to find around Neely was exactly what he needed.  "Maybe when we go book shopping.  We could stop by the owl post."  Maybe.  If he didn't find yet another 10 reasons to chicken out. 

"I don't ..." What was he supposed to say especially when he was almost half-tempted to shake her and say, plainly, word for word, It's.  Made.  Up.  I.  Don't.  Fancy.  Invisible.  People.  But, even he wasn't foolish enough for that.  That had danger written all over it in bright, fat, shiny, stenciled letters.  Or like the Hollywood sign.  How on earth had this gotten so complicated?  "Neely, really?  Last Christmas, when he asked me if I had any prospects, what do you think I should have said?  I can't just go telling my parents I'm seeing someone when I don't have their permission - and they don't even know who I am.  And ... and then I'd have to make up lies about who they are.  It'd be ... it'd be inappropriate."  More than inappropriate.  "It's just ... if the person's made up, it's easier.  You don't have to worry about whether they'd want you claiming you fancy them in the first place." 

Sasha was really hoping that, for simplicity's sake, that Neely would have immediately nodded fervently and, with a tension-breaking laugh, assured that it was enough.  But, she didn't answer.  Not right away, at least.  A tense silence lingered and, even when she finally did offer an answer, it wasn't very convincing.  Even to him.  What was wrong?  He still couldn't understand why it bothered her so much but he still felt more and more responsible.  "I'm sorry," he said, quietly.  "I really am - I should have ... I knew it was better to keep all this stuff separate.  I just ... I knew it was.  But, it just got started and once it did, it seemed like it was making things better when you were able to - I don't know.  I never meant for you to get hurt over some joke.  I really - what?"  Did he like her a lot?  What did she mean by a lot?  Sasha's eyes widened and he stared at the back of Neely's head.  There was quite a loaded question.  But, for as loaded as the question appeared, it seemed to flow into quite a light-hearted idea.   Oddly enough, Neely's explanation didn't help leave Sasha less confused.  So, they'd gathered that neither of them preferred kissing Ava.  Which, of course, was nothing against Ava. 

"I don't mind - I'd like to be able to write you while I'm away.  It'd be nice."  It would - being able to keep touch with someone - some aspect of this world.  But, it also didn't seem that simple.  "But, I don't want ... you know, when I'm around my family, I don't have a choice but to lie and play this whole game.  But, I don't think - If I'm not around them ... I don't want to pretend to be something we're not.  You know?  I'm sorry.  I'm not saying - I want to write but I don't want it to be just for this game." 

Sasha shrugged and nodded his head before verbally answering her question.  "Yeah.  He can still jump.  Not anything really high, though.  He's really heavy in the front so he shouldn't jump the four footers I jump with Dieter.  You - you want to try jumping?"  Sasha was, simultaneously surprised, impressed, and a bit hesitant.  Hadn't she just gotten finished explaining how she was going to hex him or drag him off, too, if she fell off?  But, what harm could a simple jump do?  He didn't doubt that he could keep a firm enough hold for the both of them.  "I know I'm not a muggle.  But, I couldn't use my wand outside of school anyway.  I don't want my wand snapped.  It's only for a while - I'll be - I just got to be patient.  It'll all work out.  I can't wait to apparate, either.  It'll be great - though I hear it's hard."  If the need arose, Sasha was sure they could come up with some reason for having to stay at one of these acquaintances of Neely's.  For the time being, though, he didn't really need to worry about it. 

With a sigh, Sasha shook his head.  "It's not possible!" he insisted.  "Horses sleep standing up but cows sleep lying down.  And, they're - no.  They aren't smart but they can hear really well.  It's not easy to sneak up on them.  And, they weigh like 1500 pounds.  It's hard enough ..."  Sasha sighed again.  For some reason, rumors like cow tipping seemed to have their own resiliency.  He didn't suspect he was going to convince her.  Instead, he gave the horse's left rein a slight squeeze and tipped his head towards the line of trees.  He felt Neely's fingers intertwine around his own and smiled slightly as he urged Wobias further.  As they neared the line of trees, a narrow water ditch became visible in the field grass. 

Sasha shifted the reins into the hand which was interlaced with Neely's, so that his other hand was free to wrap around her and hug her to him.  As they neared the water, Sasha could feel Wobias' muscles bunch underneath him just before the stallion launched himself across the ditch.  Once on the other side, he guided the horse through the trees.  Once they broke through to the open field beyond, they found themselves at the outskirts of a small herd of dairy cattle.  He pulled the horse to a stop and swung off the horse, offering a hand up to help Neely down.  "There you go.  Feel free to pick a cow and try to tip it." 

Sasha had a strange logic when it came to lying, Neely knew that much. Whatever made sense to him baffled the Slytherin completely. If he was going to lie, he might as well do it properly: get into the role... like little Neely Woolfolk the art student, whose father owned football stadiums and whose mother was the heir apparent to Mother Teresa herself. Minus the whole nun bit. “You could charm,” she pointed out. “To look like a form for something else.” Surely he wouldn’t get expelled for such a tiny bit of magic? “They sell all sorts of document altering quills at Weasley’s,” she added, with a roll of her eyes and wave of her fingers. It was settled. They were going to find a way for Sasha to get into Hogsmeade. Anyone who was anyone had to be seen in Hogsmeade! And to be seen with Neely’s friends, no less, would do the boy some good, she was sure. “A whole half year before me,” she lamented, in regard to his birthday. It brought a momentary frown to her face, the idea of not being able to use magic or to Apparate or... any of those other wild, amazing things older people could do.

“Well... you know.” Neely shrugged. “Not like how--” Here she lowered her voice to a mere whisper. “Astrid sees things.” The name sounded more like ‘Acid’, and it was no secret that Neely had claimed until she was blue in the face that Astrid O’Malley was not a blood relative. It was made easier by the fact that they were virtual opposites with different surnames. Only their similar appearances made it a hurtle to fight off rumors. Oh, and the fact that some people actually believed the crazy things that came out of Astrid’s mouth. “But I’m really good at it,” she promised nevertheless, having successfully written off the crazy cousin. “I could totally help you!” The idea of tutoring Sasha was almost comical. The idea of Neely tutoring Sasha was worthy of doubling over and nearly choking on one’s own laughter. But she found herself wanting to impress him even more than usual. And had, thank Merlin, overlooked the boy’s seeming dispassion for the subject.

With (apparently entirely imaginary) images of the Minister himself sitting on the Knight Bus, and Sasha running marathons through Diagon Alley to rival Neely’s own ability to ‘Speed Shop’, the girl merely smiled. She might have laughed at him if he’d said the same thing to her a year ago, and not in the endearing, ‘that’s-so-adorable’ way, but with a judging giggle, if not a cruel one. But now that she knew possibly more than anyone else at Hogwarts knew about Sasha, it all made sense in her head. Miraculously, she hadn’t any plans to divulge these secrets. There was a power in keeping them, a sort of connection no one else was (presently) allowed, and, really, she liked being the only one who knew.

Silently doubting that gnomes could be chased away without wands or charms or magical concoctions (pesticides in the form of potions), Neely’s mouth parted in excitement over Sasha’s next words. “Yes!” She said, more loudly than she’d been talking. “We’ll order the most expensive owl-- maybe two of them-- they’ll definitely find her. You could tell her everything. It’s not like she’ll tell your step-father if she hates him, is it? That would be social suicide.” In family tree terms, which, in this particular case, were not entirely unlike school terms. Neely felt that the only reason to dine with the enemy was to gain something, and from the sound of it, Sasha’s sister had nothing to gain from their crazy patriarch who thought Neely was a bad match for his step-son. “Oh, oh, or I could lend you my owl. It never fails.” Technically speaking, she wasn’t allowed both an owl and Cashmere at school at once, but it still made exclusive trips to and from Hogwarts, living at the Woolfolk home and London and doing only Neely’s bidding.

“But how would they know?” She pointed out. “Or-- well, I wouldn’t mind. Unless you were stalking me. Or if you were a crazy. But you’re not.” In fact, Neely would be rather flattered to have someone make up a story like that, though undoubtedly she would inject a bit of drama for the benefit of her besties. A public show, with a private sense of enjoyment.

The apology was another one she found herself willing to accept. More than willing, even, because Sasha was one of the most interesting things to happen that summer. And not in the way silk florals happened. She assumed quite a bit in that moment, when he didn’t quite answer her question about whether her liked her (in that way that teenage girls defined the word “like”), but he still admitted that he’d like to keep in touch. Surely that meant something? In his own, shy Sasha language? Neely straightened a bit on the horse, though she’d been trained not to slouch. A smile crossing her lips, she said, “Well you don’t have to make it up anymore... but, if it’s easier, I guess you could tell them Hannah’s a pushover.” It was a small consolation, even if it would continue to annoy her. Her own cheeks colored slightly again, but this time with victory in mind. He didn’t want to pretend, and neither did she. Though what Sasha meant and what Neely thought Sasha meant might have been two different things. (This, of course, never crossed her mind). “The game is just to protect the real part,” she insisted, summarizing what they both already knew. “Of course we’d really be really writing to each other! For real-- like genuine dragonhide, and not a Knockturn knock-off.” It was the best example she could think of; it made perfect sense. “I only spend that much time writing to actual friends... and people I like.” Like that.

As they carried on, lightly arguing about the art of cow-tipping, Neely encouraging Sasha to make the horse jump, and Sasha challenging Neely to push over a cow, she was privately (or not so privately) thrilled to be spending her afternoon out here in the Middle of Nowhere with the Ravenclaw. “So if Hannah’s only your fake girlfriend,” she pointed out, looking toward Sasha from her place beside one of the massive cows whom she had yet to attempt to tip over. “That means someone still gets to be the real one.” She grinned at him knowingly, her eyebrows dancing slightly. “I’ll save a spot for you on the school train so you can get your things and not worry, alright?” She floated closer to the boy and leaned up on the tippy-toes of his sister’s flat boots, pressing a rather chaste kiss to his cheek. “Thanks for showing me around,” she added, as if he’d invited her. It was what boys did, she reasoned simply; they didn’t put things into so many words like Neely might.