The place wasn't that bad from the outside.  A little ... what was the word his sister would use?  Hip?  Grungy?  Quaint?  The Ravenclaw[1] felt just a slight bit out of place as he stepped inside and found his way to the apartment door.  Between heading to his teammate's house after this and then to Raine's party, there would be little time to find some place to properly press his outfit before changing, so wearing it the whole day had been the next best choice. 

Sasha had been hoping the apartment, itself, would follow the standard wizarding pattern of being much bigger, brighter and nicer than the outside suggested.  As he stepped inside, the wrapped gift[2] tucked inside his arm, he found that had not been the case. 

"You live here?"  The question had, regrettably, slipped out before Sasha was able to catch himself.  He supposed it was better than, well, nothing but he couldn't speak from personal experience.  On either option.  Even their mountain cabin, the smallest property they owned, felt less ... condensed. 

Of course, pointing that out was far from polite.  "I'm sorry," he offered, quickly.  "It's nice.  Quaint.  Low maintenance."  He should probably stop while he was ahead. 

"Allo," Sasha finally concluded, with an awkward grin, turning towards Johann.  "I ... you know, hope you don't mind me dropping by.  I wasn't sure if ... I wanted to bring this by."  He'd had no clue whether gifts were expected or whatever, and certainly hadn't expected any in return but it had seemed fitting.  "Happy Christmas."

1.	Outfit
2.	Storm/Schlagenweit presents

It was Sunday, post-Christmas, and the abode belonging to Colin which Johann shared was looking even more cluttered than usual with recent Christmas presents. They did have the new television, which Johann had promised to fund for Colin after a previous visitor[1] (never allowed near the place again) damaged it beyond repair by hexing Johann. There were books, television series, strange Muggle gifts that the two of them shared a new interest in since Colin had introduced Johann to television. Boxing Day had featured the Doctor Who special, which Johann had missed, having had to go with Hannah Bombay to her parents as payback for several incidents the past few months.

New Year would be a bit different, what with Colin meeting the full moon on the 31st. The fact his two best friends were both on their wolf-PMT so soon after Christmas meant he was finding alternative amusement, perhaps dropping by the St Mungo's event, only he'd somewhat gone off it once he'd found out his father had plans to put in an appearance. Eugh. Still - he'd had a good time at the Hogwarts Yule Ball, and his meetings with Landis of late were a highlight above the quieter weeks at work.

Thankfully, Sasha had given him advanced warning that he'd be in the area and Johann had provided the address - most of his letters tended to go via the Department because it was less conspicuous - so he wasn't up to his eyeballs in extra-curricular research for Prideaux and Morgan, and he was awake. Since being encouraged by the St Mungo's staff to kick his habit of the sleeping potions he'd been trying to become accustomed to regular sleep, but sometimes snatching a couple of hours a night for a week caught up at an inconvenient time.

Johann had been languishing on the sofa pouring over a copy of The Hobbit, enjoying what Muggles considered to be correct in terms of dwarves, dragons and other beasts, dressed in a pair of dark trousers and socks, wearing a dark green shirt that was open at the neck. A comedy, Christmas jumper was draped over the back of the sofa. He'd leapt up, discarding the book when he heard someone at the door.

"You live here?" Sasha had asked, mouth working more quickly than his usual polite brain. Johann snorted in amusement, relishing in Sasha's hurried back peddling. "I'm sorry, it's nice.  Quaint.  Low maintenance."

"... British, Muggle... Colin's." Johann spoke over the end of Sasha's description and grinned. "I know what you mean, don't worry."

"Allo, I ... you know, hope you don't mind me dropping by.  I wasn't sure if ... I wanted to bring this by. Happy Christmas."

Johann's face lit up at the prospect of a present from his newly acquainted younger relative.

"Ah! Yes - I've yours... somewhere." The older man's brow furrowed a moment in thought as he remembered where the parcel had last been seen, and he clicked his fingers, "Uh, come in, I'll give you a tour of our quaint, low maintenance abode." He requoted, and clapped Sasha on the shoulder to encourage him into the space and towards the low sofa in the living room where it was safe to perch.

"Coffee?" Johann asked, letting go of Sasha's shoulder as we gestured to the sofa to sit, and then wandered towards the adjoining kitchen. "We've got tea, other things. Colin told me you're too young to offer a beer, but more likely he's just precious of his stash." Johann shrugged.

He stopped before he got to the kitchen, having spotted the parcel on the bookshelf which belonged to Sasha in deep midnight blue wrapping paper, with silver ribbon. Being a dab hand at origami, and his mother's son, he found wrapping parcels surprisingly straight forward from having learned as a child. It surprised quite a few people as being one of the practical tasks Johann could achieve.

"Here we go, Merry Christmas." He tossed the parcel to Sasha gently and went to put the kettle on before returning to the point in the room where the kitchen and lounge met in terms of floor covering. He'd unwrap Sasha's present after bringing back the drinks and curling back onto the sofa beside his young cousin.

Within Sasha's parcel was a wizard's atlas. It was second hand, quaintly illustrated, and then elaborated by Johann with lots of suggestions on where to go, occasional tales of what occurred - and importantly, what to avoid wasting your time on. The seas around the coastlines lapped, and dragons roamed the protected reserves that Muggles didn't see. Inside the cover it read in Johann's writing Only the best of the family know to escape and see the world - but here's a little local knowledge to see you on your way.

1.	City of Delusion

Muggle, yes.  British, definitely.  "Could be out of any number of sitcoms," Sasha remarked, having scanned the flat's interior and spotted the new television.  It was impossible to say whether his cousin was well-versed enough in television to have gotten the comment. 

Though, Sasha had to admit he was pleased at the prospect of being able to talk about television programs with someone in his new found family.  He doubted he'd be talking about Star Trek Next Generation reruns with Professor Storm anytime soon. 

"You mean two people live here?"  Sasha asked, chancing another glance around before sitting down on the couch.  He was having a hard enough time picturing how one person could live in such a space.  Let alone picturing two grown men living.  "Where do you both...I mean-"  Once more, he looked around the space, subtly counting the doors.  Unless this was one of those places that was so ... frugal ... the WC was a communal space in the hall, there was only one bedroom. 

This wasn't like Jacoba's friend Erwin and his friend Lourens, was it?  ... No. 

At the offer of a beverage, Sasha quickly shook his head and turned back towards Johann.  "I suppose the argument of 'I'm not too young in Germany' doesn't work," he offered with a grin.  "But, coffee's would be welcome.  I'm going to a birthday party for a classmate this evening.  She's turning seventeen.  Getting me to do ... atypical things seems to be a school sport.  So, who knows what they'll be shoving my way."  All in all, coffee would be much appreciated. 

The young Ravenclaw caught the gift and settled back on the couch, turning it over in his hands before unwrapping it.  "Thank you," he offered, smiling warmly even before having opened it.  He respected Johann greatly and was very appreciative of how welcoming and accepting and, surprisingly enough, supportive the man had been. 

Sasha unwrapped the gift, carefully, easing the book from the paper with minimal tearing.  He rotated the book over and right side up, flipping carefully through the first few pages.  "It's remark-" Sasha started to comment before his eyes focused on the first added note he saw.  He grew quiet as he read it and flipped to the next.  As he flipped through the pages, the front cover fell open.  Sasha read the note several times before glancing up back up at Johann.  He blinked several times before turning his attention back to the atlas. 

Seeing the world.  Escaping.  Sasha took a deep breath.  Did Johann have any idea just how tempting that concept was these days.  And, at the same time, just how remote the prospects of just getting through school sometimes seemed?  "I've never been outside of Britain and Central Europe," he admitted.  "And, most of that was just going from show to show.  The trip to Egypt was a first."  He looked up, again.  "You really did that?  Just - on your own?" 

"I suppose the argument of 'I'm not too young in Germany' doesn't work, but, coffee's would be welcome.  I'm going to a birthday party for a classmate this evening.  She's turning seventeen.  Getting me to do ... atypical things seems to be a school sport.  So, who knows what they'll be shoving my way."

"Pfft." Johann replied, rummaging in the kitchen for all the required items to make coffee. "It doesn't bother me, but turning up to your friend's party after a beer might not be the best move. Coffee it is."

While things brewed, Johann leaned on the kitchen counter, peering across the room at Sasha with interest, his eyes narrowed like a cat's. He scrubbed up well as usual, almost too well for a classmate's birthday party. Ha, Sasha wouldn't be much out of place at Durmstrang.

"It's remark-" The dark-haired man's smile grew as he saw his cousin read and read, then read the cover note, and looked up. Johann gave him a nod, grinning, and went to finish the coffee.

"I've never been outside of Britain and Central Europe, and, most of that was just going from show to show.  The trip to Egypt was a first. You really did that?  Just - on your own?"

Johann landed the coffee on the table between them, and then his backside on the sofa beside Sasha, still grinning. He picked up the parcel Sasha had brought with him, and held it between his fingertips a moment as he listened to the question.

"What, the atlas, or the travelling?" The linguist asked, "I did the travelling, but made quite a number of acquaintances along the way. The atlas I picked up during November. I didn't get round to adding the notes until more recently. It was a good distraction for me." Johann's fingers tapped distractedly on the parcel from Sasha, still in its wrapping, pushing aside thoughts of the nights without sleeping potion he'd managed of late. There was more than one reason Colin wasn't keen on them touching the beer - they'd been through quite a bit that month.

"Two people you might know," Johann suggested brightly, "Juliette Vaillancourt, met in a Paris potioneers office, and Bai Li Yang, teaches at Salem, yes? We travelled together, but she kept moving and I kept running out of money. They're both in there, just don't tell them I put them in, alright? Don't want you having it confiscated." He grinned openly again, "they might disagree with my recommendations, but you're not a girl, even if you do live in some rather elaborate locations."

Having briefly stayed with Sasha at a rough time before leaving for France with Vedir Prideaux earlier that year, he'd encountered the size of one of the Schlagenweit properties. It was on a scale of Gabrielle Murray-Harker's type of place for sure.

"Now, what's this then?" Johann asked with all the excitement of a child, began to tear into the paper with precision, quickly revealing the book which he held up to the light for closer inspection.
"My!" He opened the cover, eyes keenly reading the publication notes, before opening it a random page and taking a sniff. "Even smells like a first edition, what a find! I do not deserve this, cousin! Thank you." Turning the pages gingerly, he tried to disturb the book as little as possible.
"How observant of you to spot the very author on my desk at the Ministry." Johann was impressed, "Though I will be keeping this one safe, after a thorough read."

He set it down ontop of the original wrapping paper, safely out of harm's way, and grasped the handle of his coffee mug.
"Classmate's party then?" Johann asked, "You're looking rather smartly dressed for my understanding of a teenage birthday party, hmm?" He watched for a reaction, "I'll take a guess its a girl, and she's probably pretty." 

The Ravenclaw nodded as he took a sip of coffee, confirming he'd been referring to the traveling.  He set the cup back down and resumed leafing through the atlas as the man spoke. 

"Just like that?" he asked, without looking up from the page displaying the southern Island of New Zealand.  "One day you just ... got up and left?  Went somewhere?  Didn't you have ... I don't know."  Responsibilities.  That was the word settling in the back of his mind but there was no way he could say such without sounding rude.  At first, the idea of just getting up and going someplace sounded so welcoming but there seemed to be such a thin line between setting out to travel and running away. 

"Just don't tell them I put them in, alright? Don't want you having it confiscated.  They might disagree with my recommendations, but you're not a girl, even if you do live in some rather elaborate locations."

Sasha ducked his head, bashfully, but returned his cousin's grin.  It was an easy agreement to make.  Sasha rarely had any trouble with his instructors but he certainly wasn't on gossiping terms with either of them.  "I won't.  Though, hopefully, I will be selling that place soon.  So, what did you do when you ran out of money?  Were you just stranded?"

Sasha smiled, broadly, as he watched Johann unwrap his own gift, pleased the text had proven a good choice.  "It is," Sasha confirmed.  It had taken some effort to convince the wizard behind the counter at Flourish and Blotts that a student was serious about looking at the shop's rare and unique collection but when he'd spotted the first printing, it had been an easy decision.  "And, of course you deserve it." 

"Classmate's party then?  You're looking rather smartly dressed for my understanding of a teenage birthday party, hmm?  I'll take a guess its a girl, and she's probably pretty."

A brilliant blush rose in the Ravenclaw's cheeks and he took a rather large sip of coffee, despite the drink not having cooled enough for true gulping.  "It's not her party, but a mutual ... I mean, I dress like this most of the time.  Maybe not quite ..." 

But, Johann wasn't really asking about his attire, was he? 

Sasha set the atlas down and pivoted on the couch to face his older cousin.  "There is.  A girl, I mean.  And, she is very pretty.  Smart and fun, too.  I guess I am trying to impress her."  In retrospect, he supposed there was truth to that though he didn't remember that reason being on the forefront of his mind when he'd selected his wardrobe. 

"I'm not sure if it's going to work, you know?  We're good friends but I'm not sure if that's it.  It's kind of complicated.  And, the only person I've ever, you know, dated was Ferguson.  So, I don't know ... if that means something."  Though now, having said it, Sasha wasn't sure if Johann had known about the nature of his relationship with the Slytherin boy.  He was certain Johann knew of Fergie.  Sasha pursed his lips and took another large sip of coffee. 

"... So, what did you do when you ran out of money?  Were you just stranded?"

Johann smiled and tapped the atlas in Sasha's grip - to indicate it was all in there.

The dark-haired wizard enjoyed the reaction he witnessed in his younger relative.
"It's not her party, but a mutual ... I mean, I dress like this most of the time.  Maybe not quite ..." He raised both eyebrows and sat mute - amused, waiting for the inevitable explanation to fill the silence. Having worked with Sasha before they knew of their family ties, he'd had the chance to understand his little ticks.

Here we go, Johann thought as Sasha put down the atlas and turned to face him.

"There is.  A girl, I mean.  And, she is very pretty.  Smart and fun, too.  I guess I am trying to impress her." Johann nodded sincerely.
"I'm not sure if it's going to work, you know?  We're good friends but I'm not sure if that's it.  It's kind of complicated.  And, the only person I've ever, you know, dated was Ferguson.  So, I don't know ... if that means something."

"Ferguson..." Johann narrowed his eyes. "Ah yes, I remember you mentioning him, back when I stopped with you a day or two." It had been just before Johann had gone to France with Vedir, running away. He'd not been in the best of minds or health, and Sasha had been kind to put him up. He remembered talk of Ferguson back then.

"Pretty, smart and fun, well, a complete package, so I'm led to believe." Johann replied, fishing his own drink up from the table and wrapping his long pale fingers around it.
"Not that those qualities are mutually exclusive in a woman, I know quite a number who fit the description, just that quite often they are the ones out conquering the world without a man... or to that matter, a good woman... by their side."

Johann thought of Hannah, although the debacle at Christmas had somewhat insinuated otherwise. He had absolutely no experience of being 'in love' or having ever asked anyone out for anything remotely romantic. Though his list of female friends stretched longer than the average man's - probably because of the lack of romantic interest.

At one point he had ended up living with one, who appeared to believe they were more than friends. She'd initially bought him a book on how to learn Dutch, he'd ranted at her in the language, already proficient, she'd taken offence, then tried to learn it from the book herself, and he'd taken pity and tried to teach her. They'd decided to share a place to live - convenience according to Johann. She cooked, did things he did not in a domestic perspective, and put up with him, all because he paid his side of the bills sporadically and occasionally allowed her to curl up next to him on the sofa and lean her head on him. He had been a bit confused when she'd got so angry about it later. As it happened, Johann wasn't thinking about that rather good example of why he was perhaps not qualified to assist with Sasha's confusion over his friend, because he didn't know it was relevant.

"They make fantastic friends. Do you fear that by making your desires... thoughts... wonders of her will mean she thinks differently upon you as a friend?" The older cousin asked, folding both his legs under himself on the sofa, both eyes fixed on Sasha's face from beside him - close enough to smell the scent the younger man had chosen to wear that day.

Sasha flushed and glanced, awkwardly down at his cup of coffee.  Yes, Ferguson.  The Ravenclaw still couldn't explain those few months with the Slytherin and he wasn't sure if he was supposed to be able to.  But, despite the confusion and conflict and the way things ended, there was still more than just a hint of longing whenever he thought about it. 

He took a deep breath and sighed, shaking his head and taking another large gulp of his coffee. 

"I know quite a number who fit the description, just that quite often they are the ones out conquering the world without a man... or to that matter, a good woman... by their side."

"Yes.  She is that, and more.  And, she could conquer the world if she wanted to," Sasha said, cradling his mug between both hands.  In fact, if going out to conquer the world alone was really, truly the alternative Abby was considering, Sasha would be more than happy to step aside for that.  Sasha's gaze shifted to the wizarding atlas and lingered on it for a few moments.  "I just hope she believes that one day.  There's nothing, you know, overly private in there.  Right?"  Sasha turned back towards Johann. 

"Do you fear that by making your desires... thoughts... wonders of her will mean she thinks differently upon you as a friend?"

The Ravenclaw dipped his head, slightly, pursing his lips.  "And, I'm not really good at this stuff to begin with.  The first girl I dated ... I ... well, I made her up.  But, the second girl I dated ... we'd dated and broken up before I realized we were dating?"  Sasha grinned sheepishly at Johann, shrugging. 

"But, yeah.  I don't know.  It's complicated.  She's a squib and her parents are pretty, you know, traditional?  They're trying to encourage her to marry this pureblood from Durmstrang.  And, everyone thinks I'm a muggleborn.  So -"  The odds were stacked against him.  Even without all the other complications. 

At the query about anything overly private being in the atlas Johann paused and frowned slightly, surprised at the question.
"Why, because you fear reading something or because you're curious...? You'll have to read it to find out." He swigged at his coffee and prised the copy of the Hobbit out of the small of his back, unaware he'd sat on it until then. He tossed it onto the table out of the way.

"She's a squib and her parents are pretty, you know, traditional?  They're trying to encourage her to marry this pureblood from Durmstrang.  And, everyone thinks I'm a muggleborn.  So -"

"Mm. So almost in your favour to let them know. But..." Johann strung the final word out in a pause, drumming his fingers on the coffee mug, "Not that our family doesn't have its fair share of half-bloods married in along the way, just glossed over, if anyone asks." He shrugged, and peered down into his mug thoughtfully.

"Can't say I see the appeal of getting attached to women romantically, rather talked up in society in my opinion. They're good to share places with, but, they have strange notions about what that means." He looked up and drank another sip of coffee.

"So they're just 'encouraging' her, or is it more of a done deal?"

"No.  It's more if I happen to take someone with me.  If I should not let them ... I'm worry about this too much, aren't I?"  Sasha's voice trailed off as he came to his own conclusion. 

"Mm. So almost in your favour to let them know. But..."

There was a moment of hesitation on the Ravenclaw's part, mostly stemming from a blind hope that letting them know about his true blood status would make a difference.  But, eventually, he shook his head.  "I - no - that's not it.  Chances are, what little difference it would make is negligible," Sasha admitted.  "Being halfblood is likely only a slight improvement.  It's not enough.  There's no way they'd approve of her dating me."  Not without a secret mother somewhere, too. 

"I don't think they're forcing her, necessarily.  So, no, it's not technically a done deal.  But, I get the sense the disapproval would be significant if she didn't."  Especially if it fell through because of a non-pureblood.  "Nothing's ever simple, is it?" he smiled, slightly. 

"Can't say I see the appeal of getting attached to women romantically, rather talked up in society in my opinion. They're good to share places with, but, they have strange notions about what that means."

Okay.  So, maybe it could be simple.  With a slightly shy smirk, Sasha shrugged.  "Being attached to a guy seemed pretty similar.  There was plenty of disapproval there."  For multiple reasons.  In fact, if Sasha thought about it, so far they'd all been pureblood.  Neely.  Fergie.  Abby.  Even Ava, if you counted her. 

"But, don't you get lonely?  I mean, roommates isn't really the same thing.  You've never ... I don't know.  Wanted to get closer with someone?  Someone you could trust?"  After a moment of consideration, Sasha quickly added: "and, you know, if I'm getting too personal, you can say so." 

"Being attached to a guy seemed pretty similar.  There was plenty of disapproval there."

Johann swallowed a sip of coffee, and stared out across the room, and made a quiet 'mm' noise of agreement.
"Yes, noticed that."

"But, don't you get lonely?  I mean, roommates isn't really the same thing.  You've never ... I don't know.  Wanted to get closer with someone?  Someone you could trust?" Johann's eyes slid back to Sasha and he lowered the mug to his crossed legs again. "...And, you know, if I'm getting too personal, you can say so."

"No, you're always welcome to ask questions." He assured Sasha, "Though sometimes you just need to use these," he gestured to Sasha's eyes with two long, pale fingers, "to find your answer rather than enquiring verbally." He grinned, referring to the sort of thing he did each morning in the atrium, keenly examining colleagues he'd never spoken to, had no business with, but guessing their morning routines, how well they'd slept. All a game.

"No, I don't think I get lonely." Johann replied, his gaze having slipped towards the windows, focused on middle-distance. "Sometimes when its quiet and the middle of the night, but that's more boredom. I just... work." He gave a little shrug of the shoulders, and turned his dark blue gaze back to his cousin.
"I trust Colin, Hannah... Ignan... Gabrielle and others, to an extent." His thoughts had turned to the likes of the two healers at St Mungo's earlier that month. They'd keep their oath and not speak of what had happened in that week, thank Merlin.

"Why, do you crave it? Or do you perceive you crave it because the world around you tells you that you should be?" Johann enquired of Sasha, gaze unmoving... watching.

Confusion furrowed Sasha's brow as his cousin gestured towards him.  Was the man's answer a general one or specific?  Was it in regards to questions in general or dealing, specifically, with relationships?  "You sound like our school's counselor.  When she's talking about Divination[1]," Sasha  offered.  "I do that in certain circumstances.  Mostly watching for signs I've, you know, taken it too far?  Crossed a line?"  Beyond that, Sasha's observation skills certainly struggled. 

"Sometimes when its quiet and the middle of the night, but that's more boredom. I just... work."

"You too?" Sasha asked, grinning slightly.  "I do that all the time."  And, for the most part, keeping busy and focused had always seemed sufficient.  In regards to most things.  In fact, until very recent, Sasha had been perfectly content with a fictional girlfriend. 

But, did he crave it?  Until Abby, most of the romantic connections had been there before he'd realized it.  He certainly hadn't gone looking for it - certainly hadn't craved it.  With Fergie, it just happened.  But, with Fergie, he had discovered why it was so important.  Why it meant so much.  Perhaps, then, he'd learned to crave it. 

"I don't know," Sasha answered, his usual vague response hanging in the air as he considered the question.  "That wasn't what the world told me, though.  Relationships were about status and politics.  If my parents hadn't ... you know, I'd likely be looking at a 'socially strategic' marriage just as much as Abby.  Though, I would have had more choices."  Though, all muggle and all Catholic. 

Sasha shrugged and set the coffee mug down on the coffee table.  "It's the validation of it, I guess.  Of being important to someone and, knowing you can rely on them.  It's ... it's hard to explain.  I don' understand it."   

1.	Here We Are, Again

"I don't know, that wasn't what the world told me, though.  Relationships were about status and politics.  If my parents hadn't ... you know, I'd likely be looking at a 'socially strategic' marriage just as much as Abby.  Though, I would have had more choices. It's the validation of it, I guess.  Of being important to someone and, knowing you can rely on them.  It's ... it's hard to explain.  I don' understand it."

"Abby?" Johann replied, trying the name softly upon his lips. It was vaguely familiar, perhaps Sasha had mentioned her before, but perhaps not in this way.

"Socially strategic, well, why break the habit of a lifetime in our wizarding society." The older cousin remarked, not quite making the connection between his own Christmas Day question to Hannah and what he'd just said.

"You can be important to someone and rely on them without 'loving' them though?" Johann queried, "A healer doesn't love their patients, but they're still important to them, and the patient relies upon them." He gave a sigh, and shook his head.

"What do I know anyway?" The taller man folded both legs futher onto the sofa bed and sat back. "I go to Christmas Day dinners with friends to help them avoid questions of relationships." He shrugged, "If you really want her companionship, you'll find a way. You're not dim, and hopefully she's not either." Looking back to Sasha apologetically he offered a smile. "Either way, you look well on it."

"Socially strategic, well, why break the habit of a lifetime in our wizarding society."

"Because, I don't fit into the strategy," Sasha answered, quietly.  It was still an odd feeling - the juxtaposition of his social status within the muggle world and wizarding one. 

It was clear Johann didn't understand, though, and Sasha wasn't sure pointing out the flaws in the man's logic would make much difference.  He wasn't sure the analogy of the Healer sat well, either but for many of the same reasons why he rarely felt comfortable around Ms. Biladeau.  There was importance, yes.  And reliance - or, more accurately, dependence.  But, it was a professional expectation.  A job.  The patient was little more than a line item on a daily to do list.  He'd had enough of that.  Being important out of simple obligation.

"I go to Christmas Day dinners with friends to help them avoid questions of relationships."

"That's why I made up a girlfriend.  Kept things less messy.  Especially when they conveniently live in other countries."  Simple until Neely found out about the fictional girlfriend and helped facilitate a break up[1].  He wished he shared his cousin's optimism but only time would tell where things would go.  In the end, it'd be up to Abby. 

But, enough about matters he knew next to little about.  And, though it seemed impossible, matters which seemed to Johann know even less about.

"How are things at the Ministry?  Any, you know, new gossip?  I assume I'll be able to reapply for an internship next summer?" Sasha asked, glancing curiously at his cousin.  Though, perhaps, his biggest hurdle appeared to be his new found family's recommendation to, well, just wander over the summer.  The frivolity of it still seemed incredibly foreign; he at least wanted to know if he'd have a reliable, productive fallback plan. 

Which looked remarkably similar to last year.  Except, hopefully, for the location.

1.	You Loose Some, You Win Some

"That's why I made up a girlfriend.  Kept things less messy.  Especially when they conveniently live in other countries."

"Hmm," Johann mildly agreed, "But you'd have to remember everything about them, and people would want to see photographs, and meet them." He was staring off to one side thoughtfully about that possibility for Hannah, wouldn't that have been simpler? Probably not, Cynthia seemed to want to verify the boyfriend wasn't a corpse.
"I guess its easier when you're a teenager."

"How are things at the Ministry?  Any, you know, new gossip?  I assume I'll be able to reapply for an internship next summer?"

"Of course, I'd have you back." Johann grinned, "Where would I be without my right hand minion and shadow?" He extended his arms towards Sasha on the sofa beside him as if presenting the Ravenclaw to an audience.

"The gossip is good, but I'd probably have to kill you as you're a Hogwarts champion, and the tournament is still going. Whoever is going home with whom will probably have changed by the time you return, anyhow." Johann's fascination with people watching regularly interrupted their work when he was distracted, once waving a knife to gesture towards two colleagues when doing the relationship elixir test with Sasha that day in the office.

"Haven't managed to kill Hamilton, though I think I'd miss him if I did. He went off on holiday for two weeks at the start of December, I didn't even get to enjoy it because I was in Saint... er..." realising what he was saying he quickly changed the subject back to Sasha.

"No, you should come back. Besides when I get interns, I get far more interesting jobs to take you to, than if I was just working on my own. But, do you want to join our ranks or have you got your sights set on somewhere else? I'm not exactly sure how you can use me as a reference if you go to the dark side, I probably don't exist according to Muggles..."

"But you'd have to remember everything about them, and people would want to see photographs, and meet them."

A slight blush rose in the younger man's cheeks and Sasha shrugged as he looked down at his mug.  "I am a Ravenclaw.  Remembering details is easy.  I had a journal for the big things.  Luckily, my parents weren't really interested beyond the basic statistics.  Money.  Status.  Progress.  Beyond that, they didn't care.  Hannah was easier to maintain then I suspected."  Unaware of the irony of his pretend ex-girlfriend's chosen name, Sasha shrugged and sipped his coffee. 

Despite himself, Sasha grinned when Johann confirmed he could return to the Ministry internship.  Despite the rather unreassuring introduction to interning with the Department of International Magical Cooperation, he'd grown to enjoy working under Johann.  Even before discovering there was more than one familial connection in the office.  "You would miss Hamilton.  Besides, it's work breaking in a new scapegoat."

Though he understood the sensitive nature of gossip, especially in light of the Tournament, Sasha couldn't resist shrugging.  "Well, I think any chances of my being a champion again disappeared with my prefect badge," Sasha admitted.  "And, my hopes of being Head Boy." 

Talk turned quickly back to Sasha's future plans and the Ravenclaw gave the question some thought before answering.  "I've considered it," Sasha admitted.  "I mean, I enjoy it.  And, you haven't sent me packing as a hopeless case or anything.  But, I suppose it's more of a fallback plan.  I'm more looking into, well, research?  Experimental stuff?  It's not ... for better or worse, I don't think references will get me very far.  Connections will get me further." 

A flicker of worry crossed Sasha's face as he looked towards Johann.  "What do you mean by going to the dark side?" he asked, trying to sound casual.  "What have you heard?"