Late afternoon/early evening
Lordsbridge Arena riding center, Cambridge, UK

Every few steps down the drive, Sasha felt the need to glance back down at Cyhirae, just to check she was there.  Not because he expected her to suddenly disappear but more ... it was kind of an odd feeling.  Being followed by another member of one's current household.  In his home, growing up, everyone led such very different, separate lives.  The three Schlagenweit kids spent most of the year at their own separate boarding schools.  And, even over the holidays when they were in the same place, they rarely involved each other in what they were doing. 

It had, therefore, completely surprised Sasha when Cyhirae showed genuine interest when Sasha had spent much of the afternoon, after exams, at the riding school on the east side of Cambridge.  He'd invited her to come along this afternoon since, obviously, it was the proper thing to do but he'd been surprised, again, when she accepted.  And, again, with genuine enthusiasm. He was surprised, but not necessarily in a bad way. 

"So...um," Sasha offered Cyhirae a sheepish grin as he tugged the gate open for the girl before following her inside.  "I used to go to school with the daughter of the owner.  Before - you know.  But, they think I go to school in Switzerland.  I haven't quite worked out how we know each other, but ..."  Sasha shrugged.  He was hoping Tia wasn't going to ask.  Such was the reality of the muggleborn - always coming up with explanations that worked on both sides. 

"I assume you've been to a stable before, ja?" 

Cyhirae followed Sasha closely as they walked towards their destination, whatever it actually was. She had no idea where they were going and was trying extra hard to pay attention and not distracted by all the goings on around her. She was very excited to see the horses, and maybe even ride one. Cyhirae adjusted her hoodie, she hoped she had dressed at least somewhat appropriately for doing so.

"So...um. I used to go to school with the daughter of the owner.  Before - you know.  But, they think I go to school in Switzerland.  I haven't quite worked out how we know each other, but ..."

"We could just tell them a version of the truth. That we go to school together and I'm the daughter of one of your professors and you're staying with us to pass your exams. That would prevent slip ups for the most part." She grinned at him, "Just don't need to mention magic and we'll be all set." Having grown up in the muggle world and keeping those ties after she had started at Hogwarts meant that Cyhirae was used to hiding the truth from muggles. She had found that it was easier if she kept the lies small and easily remembered. "Did you give them a school name at all? Anything else that I should know about our school?"

I assume you've been to a stable before, ja?"

"I haven't. Actually, I've never ridden on a horse before. I've only ridden on those kiddie pony rides when I was little." Cyhirae shrugged, "And that's very different than what this is." She gestured around her.

Again, Sasha looked down at Cyhirae in surprise before leading the way inside the main barn. "If you want to go to school in Switzerland."  How many years had he gone around making up friends because he'd felt guilty about including other people in lies?  Would it have really been this simple?  After a moment, he shrugged and returned the grin.  "Alright.  If you're sure." 

Sasha moved slowly down the aisle, reaching a hand out to scratch the occasional, curious lip.  "I ... well, it's Appenzell Landesgymnasium für Hochbegabte - or school of the elite or gifted - the school offers invitations to students from all over.  It's near the border of Liechtenstein.  The languages of instruction is German and French, but I doubt they'll ask about that.  We've only talked in passing since I left Ethelburga's - but we were on the riding team together there.  She invited me to come by and work with the schooling horses." 

"So, you haven't been around horses at all?  That seems so strange," Sasha admitted, quietly, shaking his head.  "I've been riding since I was four.  But, that's definitely different," Sasha confirmed.  "I think those ponies sleep walk.  I'm sure they get bored enough."  Sasha stopped just outside one of the stalls where a round, dark bay mare reached her nose out to curiously sniff at Cyhirae.  Sasha glanced between the mare and Cyhirae before shrugging, slightly.  "Do you want to try it?"

"I ... well, it's Appenzell Landesgymnasium für Hochbegabte - or school of the elite or gifted - the school offers invitations to students from all over.  It's near the border of Liechtenstein.  The languages of instruction is German and French, but I doubt they'll ask about that.  We've only talked in passing since I left Ethelburga's - but we were on the riding team together there.  She invited me to come by and work with the schooling horses." 

Cyhirae blinked, "I'll try and remember that." 'Hopefully.' "If anything I can just deflect things to you, or pretend I'm a recent transfer because my father joined the staff?" On second thought this did seem to be more complex than she had initially thought. "Or maybe just drop that we're classmates and I'm just the daughter of your Professor." That would at least mean she didn't have to pretend to speak French or German. Trying to deal with her broken Egyptian Arabic while on the Egypt trip had been hard enough.

"So, you haven't been around horses at all?  That seems so strange," Sasha admitted, quietly, shaking his head.  "I've been riding since I was four.  But, that's definitely different," Sasha confirmed.  "I think those ponies sleep walk.  I'm sure they get bored enough."

She reached up up to pet the mare slowly, "Yeah, they were certainly very mellow.  Nothing like these guys," She gestured around her. "It's not really that strange if you think about it. Horses are expensive and are a hobby now so it's not like I'd need to learn how to ride." She spoke in the way of someone who has heard this lectured to her several times over and really didn't want to accept such reasoning, but couldn't argue with the conclusion.

"Do you want to try it?"

Cyhirae beamed, "Yes, very much so. Hence why I'm here."

Sasha looked down at Cyhirae, his mouth shifting to the side in thought.  Perhaps his initial assumptions had been correct - which, by now, really shouldn't come as a surprise.  Lies had a way of getting more complicated and precarious as they got bigger.  And, it got much easier for them to fall apart.  He knew this as well as anyone.  For all he knew, Tia's father could very well work at the University and may even know Professor Trishna. 

The boy shrugged and shook his head, watching as Cyhirae reached out to pet the mare.  His head was still a bit too fried and exhausted from the full day of examinations to really worry too much about what they were supposed to say.  "Hopefully, no one will ask," Sasha concluded, slipping his hands in his pockets.  "Or, maybe I met your father when I did the program over the summer at Cambridge.  I don't know.  Hopefully, no one will ask," he repeated.  That was really the best option. 

What might have seemed a repetitive lecture of excuses to Cyhirae was almost completely foreign to Sasha and the confused scowl he gave the girl revealed as much.  "Oh.  They're not just a hobby."  As much as, in his mind, there was some truth to the statement, it had been more a last minute alternative to mistakenly disputing the 'horses are expensive' comment.  "Alright - just let me double check."  The Ravenclaw disappeared, briefly, but returned with an armful of tack and permission from the manager. 

After putting the tack down, Sasha grabbed a halter and led the mare out into the aisle.  "Alright - first step is you've got to get her clean.  Just like brushing Kepler," he said, pulling one of the plastic totes of brushes closer.  Or, like brushing Professors when they had unfortunate run ins with hags.  But, Sasha was fairly certain no one, even Cyhirae, knew about that.  "Just, you know, talk to her so she knows where you are."

"Or, maybe I met your father when I did the program over the summer at Cambridge.  I don't know.  Hopefully, no one will ask."

"I guess we'll cross that bridge when we get to it." She shrugged, that was all they really could do. "I'll just follow your lead."

"Oh.  They're not just a hobby." 

"They are a hobby, at least for us." Cyhirae teased. "You don't need to ride horses to survive or hold a job now a days. Not in England." She knew there were places that people did uses horses for their livelihoods. They were just very far away from where they were now. "And last I heard you weren't going to become a jockey or a vet or run a stable after you graduate so," she gave him a sly smile, "they fall under the category of 'hobby'.

"Alright - first step is you've got to get her clean.  Just like brushing Kepler. Just, you know, talk to her so she knows where you are."

"Kepler doesn't let me brush him actually. Probably because I take Gliese's side when they fight." Well Gliese was her cat, it made sense. She grabbed one of the brushes from the tote and began to bush around the mare's shoulder area. "Is there anything else I should do so I don't get kicked?"

"They are a hobby, at least for us.  You don't need to ride horses to survive or hold a job now a days."

Sasha blinked and stared down at Cyhirae for a moment.  He'd never considered before that 'survive' was a relative term.  "Well, no..."  Sasha picked up a second brush moved around to the mare's far side.  "Not like oxygen or water or such.  But..."  There was an abundance of uncertainty in the Ravenclaw's life - he was well aware he had no idea where he'd be even come spring break.  But, horses would remain a constant. 

"I used to want to as a kid," Sasha admitted with a grin.  Like most kids, he'd gone through a number of answers to the 'what to be when one grew up' question.  Jockey for a while.  That got replaced with Knight.  Then, Olympian.  "But, obviously-"  He glanced down at his feet.  It'd become obvious he would outgrow that possibility years ago.  "And, I kind of already do.  It's just currently down in Germany."  Depending on how one defined 'run a stable,' at least.  Admittedly, it wasn't public.  "Wherever I end up this summer, I'll be back to it."  There was truth in what Cyhirae was saying, even if Sasha couldn't see it. 

Sasha grinned over the mare's back at Cyhirae.  "Glad I'm not the only one.  Kepler doesn't let me brush him, either.  I think it's the dog." 

"Ah - ja.  Don't make any sudden moves - unlike cats, they're prey animals.  So, they're more prone to defending first and then checking if you're harmful second."  Which sounded familiar, if one thought about it.  "And, don't stand behind her.  Mostly, giving her forewarning about where you are is the best thing and keeping an eye out for what's going on around you.  If you see kids running around, best to ... well, tell them to stop." 

Cyhirae nodded,"Got it. Talk lots and no sudden moves." Cy ran the brush over the mare's shoulder area, feeling that it would be easier to not mess up  and get injured if she was in a place the horse could see her but not kick her. Biting however was still a possibility. "Sooo," Cy drawled, "now that you've finished your testing what are you going to do now? Go to college after you graduate from school?"

"I'm probably going to go to college after I graduate," she continued. "Like Dad did." Since she was little she wanted to follow in her father's footsteps and residing at Hogwarts merely reinforced her feelings. She missed the technology and it had taken her several months to adjust to the culture shock, even among a house with a large quantity of muggleborns. She didn't know how Gigi tolerated being such an outsider among her house.

Luckily there wasn't anything in the wizarding world that she felt a burning desire to do after graduating, which made leaving it easier."I don't know what I want to study yet though. Thankfully I have a few years to decide what I'd like to focus on."

"Almost," Sasha corrected, glancing over the mare's back at Cyhirae.  "I'm almost done.  One more day tomorrow. But, only French, Physics and History.  It'll be a light day."  They were here taking a break.  Once they were finished, he'd be back to the books for another, long marathon night.  This time, tomorrow, he'd be done.  Done.  Done.  Thank goodness.  "And, be careful when you're brushing over here," he pointed to the mare's flank and brushed a hand over it.  "Horses tend to be ticklish there - she doesn't seem very sensitive but, you know." 

He resumed brushing his side of the mare.  "Well, A-Levels are next.  Finish those with my N.E.W.Ts.  Though, after the last couple months, I don't think I'm going to try to do A-Levels and N.E.W.Ts in the same year.  I think I'll take a year off after next year to get ready for A-Levels."  This past year had been near insane.  The next year and half would still be tough even if he continued with his current workload and just started on A-Level studies.  But, if he gave himself a year between then it would take a little of the pressure off.  "But, yes.  Ultimately, I'm planning on going to University.  Right now I'm thinking of doing a dual study of Biochemistry and Physics.  I'm hoping to do research with both the magic stuff and science.  We'll see, though."  He didn't know if she wanted details. 

Sasha finished grooming the mare on his side and circled around to Cyhirae's side, waiting for her to finish.  "You should.  I think it'll be very different from, you know, Hogwarts.  Maybe we'll be classmates again, one day," Sasha said with a grin.  He had to admit, it was kind of a neat idea.  "Did you go to muggle school before Hogwarts?" 

She did have a few years to decide.  "I really didn't know what I wanted to do until pretty recently.  Until Professor Trishna - you're father started, really.  Are you thinking, at least, you'll want to do sciences, too?  Are you into social sciences?" 

"I really didn't know what I wanted to do until pretty recently.  Until Professor Trishna - you're father started, really.  Are you thinking, at least, you'll want to do sciences, too?  Are you into social sciences?"

"Not really," Cyhriae continued to brush the mare, following Sasha's lead. "Or not as much as other branches. I do like learning about what happened in the past but it doesn't seem as exciting as discovering something..." she gestured around with her non brush wielding hand trying to find the right word, "new and advanced."

"I like math and I like most branches of physics, but I also like some life sciences like ecology and other applied sciences like geology." She frowned slightly, "Ironically, I don't feel any pull towards astronomy." She stopped brushing the mare as she drifted slightly in thought. "Unfortunately all I've found out at Hogwarts is that I don't want to go into any," she stopped, remembering to make sure there was no one in hearing distance, "magic based career."

"At the very least I'd miss the technology," she said, voicing her earlier thoughts.

Sasha nodded in agreement.  He was good at history - or, really, anything that involved rote memory and recitation.  He didn't particularly enjoy history, though.  "My sister studied history.  And, languages and all that stuff.  But, I agree.  I'd rather stick to finding out new things."  Which, admittedly, happened in history.  Just very seldom. 

The Ravenclaw took a step back, picking up a saddle while waiting for Cyhirae to finish with brushing the mare. 

"Biology would be fun," Sasha admitted.  "It's harder to really explore all the different sciences, though, when you can't do much in the way of lab stuff.  I've tried to do a few small things at school but results are never consistent.  Though, you know - if you ever wanted to do like a study group or something?"  He didn't know if she'd want to - she and Gigi were nice enough to put up with him over the holidays.  It was hard to tell whether, once school started, they'd splinter off onto their own directions, again. 

"Alright.  Once you're ready, you're going to put this up on her back about here," Sasha instructed, holding out the saddle and gesturing the ideal placement on the mare's back.  "Then, this will go around her belly and tighten here." 

Sasha moved around Cyhirae to stand at the mare's neck, ready to help if it seemed she needed it. 

"Are you planning on doing A-Levels and such?" Sasha asked.  "For university?"

Seeing Sasha pick up the saddle Cyhirae steped back and put the brush away, allowing the older boy to do what he needed to do.

"Biology would be fun," Sasha admitted.  "It's harder to really explore all the different sciences, though, when you can't do much in the way of lab stuff.  I've tried to do a few small things at school but results are never consistent.  Though, you know - if you ever wanted to do like a study group or something?"

"Yeah, especially for stuff like chemistry and  physics where you need all that extra equipment for the higher level stuff. " Cyhirae nodded. "I don't mind doing a study group for science stuff. It would be nice to have someone else to talk to about this other than Dad and Gigi, not that Gigi enjoyed talking with me about it."

"Alright.  Once you're ready, you're going to put this up on her back about here," Sasha instructed, holding out the saddle and gesturing the ideal placement on the mare's back.  "Then, this will go around her belly and tighten here." 

Cyhirae took the saddle and set it where Sasha indicated. She fussed with it for a bit until it looked correct and attempted to get the saddle strap done correctly.

"Are you planning on doing A-Levels and such?" Sasha asked.  "For university?"

"I am, though I think expected is more accurate. If I want to get into a university I have to take them," she shrugged, "and I do want to get into a university."

"Yeah, especially for stuff like chemistry and  physics where you need all that extra equipment for the higher level stuff. "

Sasha moved around and double checked the saddle, tightening it slightly.  He moved towards the mare's head, bridle in hand.  "Well, you know," Sasha said as glanced back towards Cyhirae.  "Cambridge does a program every summer for foreign high school students.  That's how I got a lot of the lab stuff to get ready for GCSEs; played up the German bit so they assumed I was foreign.  If you aren't sick of classes by summer, that is, it's an option.  I don't know what I'm doing or where I'll be next summer, but I might be doing it, again." 

However, there were things those cut off from the scientific world could do, even at school.  "But, if you don't mind, you know, hanging out with a dorky sixth year it'd be fun to do a study group."  Sasha glanced at the fourth year with an awkward grin before turning back to the horse.

He quickly changed the horse's halter for a bridle and led the animal into the indoor arena.  Leading the mare over to a mounting block, he gestured towards the stirrup.  "Alright.  Left foot there, bounce a few times and then swing your right leg over.  Try not to 'thump' down in the saddle when you get up.'

“I’m not certain I actually qualify for that, given that Dad works for Cambridge. Though I imagine there’s something else I could do to get those requirements instead.” It wasn't an immediate concern thankfully. She still had a few summers to work things out before it became critical. “I don’t know what I’ll be doing this summer. Dad might get roped into another school event or we might go on a long vacation, or I might be able to go to dance camp this summer after all.” Cy personally was hoping for the latter. She wasn't able to go last summer because of the Egypt trip and she really missed being able to do ballet now that after school activities were a wash.

Cyhirae watched as Sasha finished tacking up, “I did say that it would be nice to talk about science stuff with someone other than Dad or Gigi. Who knows, maybe there are a few others who would be interested and also know stuff.” When he finished she followed him into the arena, making sure to give the horse plenty of space.

Cyhirae stepped up the block and put one foot in the stirrup and bounced as directed. She attempted to throw her leg over completely but didn't quite make it. She managed to shift her hips to get herself fully in the saddle. The mare thankfully stood patiently while she tried to settle herself in. “So now what?”

Cyhirae probably had a point.  Pretending would probably be harder since her father worked there.  The Ravenclaw nodded, quietly, diverting his attention to double checking the mare's gear as the younger girl speculated on her summer plans.  Trying to shove the slight pang of jealousy to the side, Sasha took a step back and nodded again.  Being nestled into the Trishna household, it had already been surprisingly easy to temporarily forget, or ignore, that, after these holidays, he'd be very much back on his own. 

"Dance camp?  You dance?" Sasha asked, taking a step back.  "Alright, yeah.  True.  I know Alvis might be interested.  Maybe with the Muggle Club."  Which, unfortunately, had been sorely neglected the last term.  Between nefarious extracurricular studies and GCSE prep, it had fallen to the wayside. 

Sasha nodded.  "Alright.  We'll just do some basic stuff.  But, you know, if you'd like to learn more, I'd be happy to teach you.  Would be fun.  In fact-"  Sasha cut that though off and shook his head.  Best to talk to Professor Trishna about such things, first.  "See that "C" down at the far end of the arena?  That's where you want to go.  So, to start with, just keep looking towards your goal and squeeze your legs."