"Aww, taking advantage of your abnormally active facial capillaries is just cruel. I mean, it's not even sporting since you admit that it isn't difficult," Verity remarked. "I promise to not actively attempt to make you flustered."

It was a rare occurrence for Verity to be able to discuss nerd culture with any of her fellow students, as most of them didn't understand that there weren't tiny people inside the television sets. "See? Captain Jack is tidy! Torchwood understands this, and gives the viewers what they want. And Rose gets a lot of flack for being a teenager, but I still adore her. I mean, it would be difficult to not try to save someone you loved who died. And I might marathon the series over break. It'll give me something to do when I'm feeling less extroverted."

Verity's plans for after Hogwarts had been giving her stress until just recently, but it seemed that she would be spending quite some time in the Muggle world after her seventh year. "I'm actually going to be going to university for psychology, so Apparating will probably be somewhat out of the question for me, too. What are you going to be doing after Hogwarts?"

Sasha’s brow quirked briefly, as he considered the likelihood that the Hufflepuff’s assurances were, in fact, earnest.  There were plenty in the past who claimed to have no intentions of flustering him but still seemed to do so with obvious regularity.  And enjoyment.

Not that he really minded. 

He made a mental note to check in with Verity after the summer holidays to see if she had, indeed, indulged in a marathon.  Such mindless marathons were, after all, one of the perks of returning to the muggle world after a year at Hogwarts. 

“Really?” Sasha looked up at Verity, surprised.  Had he heard she’d been considering University?  Not that he could remember and, given his own plans, it was unlikely he would have forgotten.  “Do you know which?  Or, which you hope to attend?  How are you…what’s your plan?” 

Over the years, Sasha had learned to tread cautiously when discussing muggle academics with other Hogwarts students.  The idea wasn’t always welcome.  Most of the time, he just got stray, confused and slightly suspicious glances from classmates when they caught him studying physics.  On occasion, especially in previous years, the response was a bit more … physical.  However, Verity was muggleborn and her recent decision reinforced her reputation for being sympathetic to such concepts. 

Sasha grinned and shrugged, more than a little pleased to have someone with whom he could discuss such things.  Someone who was actually another student.  Even if she was pursuing a soft science.

“I’ve been interning at the Department of International Magical Cooperations the last few summers but I’m probably going to University after Hogwarts, as well.  Take a few months after NEWTs to finish prepping for A-Levels since there won’t be much time next year.  Haven’t decided what courses of study, yet, but I’m leaning towards joint degrees in physics and biochemistry.  After that, pursue some research and … technology development,” he offered, vaguely.  “Bring it back to the Hogwarts studies, if I can.” 

The surprise in Sasha's voice made Verity grimace. And the continued questions made her realize how unprepared that she was, due to the recentness of her decision, she hadn't had time to look into which university she hoped to attend. This was unlike her, as she usually had plans laid out well in advance. For some reason, the thought that she would eventually graduate from Hogwarts hadn't occurred to her.

"I don't actually know which school I am planning on attending," she admitted with a tinge of shame. "I will probably apply to several. But I completed my GCSE for Psychology last summer, and Maiko is going to be helping me study for the A-Levels. I had once thought that I would get some standard magical job after school, maybe working at St. Mungos, but the more I have thought about it, the idea just doesn't appeal to me."

When Sasha told her that he had been doing summer internships, she mentally berated herself for her lack of foresight, even though interning somewhere in the magical world wouldn't exactly be something she could put on an application. But when he mentioned his planned degrees, she raised an eyebrow. "A Whovian who is going towards a degree in physics. Why am I not surprised?" She teased gently. "But that's well tidy. We could have study sessions over the summer if you would like."

The pause before 'technology development' caused her to tilt her head questioningly, but she wasn't sure if he would appreciate her prying. Her curiosity won out in the end, though, but she felt that the fact that she had reservations about it diminished any potential rudeness.

"That was rather vague," she commented with a chuckle. "What sort of stuff are you interested in researching and developing?"

“Psychology?”  Sasha repeated.  “Just psychology?” 

In retrospect, Sasha might eventually realize how the question had sounded.  Though it hadn’t been out of disappointment or any notion that Verity was underachieving.  That wasn’t it at all.  He knew as well as any how pursuing any muggle academics while at Hogwarts was difficult.  Figuring out how to navigate the logistics was half the battle; he wouldn't have managed without Professor Trishna's help.  Sasha had had an advantage; he’d kept one foot firmly in muggle academics since his first year though not initially by choice.

Was he really the best suited to be the barer of bad news? 

“You need at least five to continue to A-Levels,” Sasha pointed out, grimacing apologetically.  “Including the core of English, mathematics and science.  Psychology doesn’t count, unfortunately.  That would be an elective.  The single science GCSE comprises of material from the three core: biology, chemistry and physics.  I did the three sciences as separate exams but you have to at least do the single combined exam.  Usually a language and at least one more elective.”  After a moment, he shrugged and added.  “Unless you plan to fake them with magic.  Which some have done.  But, it would look very strange ... you'd stand out going in to A-Levels with only one test and no core subjects behind you.” 

With a slight chuckle, Sasha grinned and shrugged his shoulders.  “We could have study sessions here, too.  I have all my textbooks here since first year.  English.  Physics.  I never got to bring anything home so they’re all in my trunk.”  If everything worked out as planned, though, there was a bit of a Doctor Who-ish undertone.

Again, Sasha hesitated and glanced around the room.  It wasn’t that he didn’t want to tell Verity - he’d gathered by now she wasn’t one to object.  He was very aware they were speaking in a public area; the risk of being overheard curbed his tongue more than his company. 

“Another time,” he offered.  “It’s … I rather it weren’t overheard.  It’s a bit…non-traditional?  Probably not very popular?”  He grimaced apologetically.  “There’s a lot of work to do before I even know if it’s feasible.  But, I don’t want to risk derailing it before it has even started.”

Five? At least? Verity realized that she couldn't breathe and sat there, mouth agape dumbly. A ghastly, shrill note pierced her ears, and with awful clarity she realized that the sound was coming from her. Several of the other patrons of the Three Broomsticks turned towards the direction of the two teens, and a few glared at Sasha, assuming that he had just broken up with the poor girl.

"F-five?" She blubbered weakly, as Sasha's features blurred due to the tears welled up in her hazel eyes. She felt her stomach lurch, and she downed the rest of her butterbeer in an attempt to remove her tongue's current sandpaper texture. "I... I thought that I had been prepared... Oh god, I'm sorry."

She closed her eyelids tightly and pursed her lips in an attempt to stave off the waterworks, as she knew she was merely seconds away from ugly crying. Complete with snot. Verity had never mastered the ability to 'cry pretty', much to her chagrin. She focused intently on her breathing, all the while berating herself - her mind dredging up every jab and jeer she had ever endured and plastering them on the front of her brain in bold letters and underlined for effect. Only when he mentioned that people had faked their GCSEs with magic, was she able to drag herself out of her despair. Albeit, only slightly.

"S-so, there's still a possibility for everything to be copacetic?" She wasn't in the mindset to debate with herself over the ethics of using magic to forge documents, she grasped at any straw in order to achieve her goal. The Hufflepuff knew that she would be visiting Maiko in short order, though she couldn't believe that she could have been so daft. Only doing one test? How imbecilic could she be? And she had had the audacity to be proud of herself for completing that one test, due to the juggling required to fit the studying for that into her already crammed OWLs study sessions; for some reason, she had thought it would be a good idea to take every class except Divination. "You didn't fake them, did you? How many did you do?" She instantly regretted asking that question.

Eventually, Verity became aware of the stares they were receiving from some of the other people gathered in the pub, and she flushed. And shifted herself in the seat to face away from the crowd when a scruffy looking drunk appeared to be inquiring whether she needed a rebound with rather lascivious gestures.

"I'm mortified. Truly, I probably can never show my face here again," she bemoaned, and shook her head. "Well, I apparently can use even more studying than I initially thought, so that would be well tidy. And greatly appreciated. I'm terribly sorry for causing such a dreadful scene."

Verity nodded when he said that he would explain another time. Due to her ridiculous dramatics, not being overheard currently was most likely impossible, as they had the attention of most of the pub. One would think that the drunkards would have more interesting things to focus on, but apparently a somewhat neurotic teen girl having her dreams crushed in front of her was grab-the-popcorn material. "Well, Tuesday then. If you are still up for meeting with me after this ghastly display of emotions."

The color drained from Sasha's face as he watched the Hufflepuff unravel.  He suspected she'd be disappointed but he wasn't expecting...devastation.  He glanced awkwardly around the room, simultaneously looking for help and some clue as to how to handle hysterical females.  A condition he seemed more than adept at creating than he ever would have guessed.  But, the faces that met his bore expressions that ranged from rubbernecking amusement to silent accusation. 

"I'm sorry," he offered, looking back to her.  There was a spell for everything!  Why wasn't there a spell for calming girls?  "It's not...you're not...most don't know how to prepare for them."   Things seemed to have been going so well moments ago!  Was he the only one who could go from 'pleasant conversation' to sobbing in a space of thirty seconds?  As usual, as Verity continued to lose composure, Sasha felt his uncertainty festering into panic.

He had no idea what to say or do to make things better.  There were plenty of people staring but no one seemed to be offering any words of wisdom or advice.  Or even a magic remedy charm.  Like an Everything-Is-Rosy hex.  Maybe he should invent one.  He knew how, surely, though optimism wasn't really one of the spell elements Mr. Morgan spent that much time on. 

"Uh...I...no," Sasha confirmed.  "I didn't fake them.  But, I also didn't...I didn't get straight top marks?  I even got a "C" in literature.  And, I've been taking more potions than I probably should be.  I ... well, I sat twelve.  Same as OWLs."  Somewhere in the back of his mind, some voice or reason knew he wasn't helping matters any but he couldn't lie and he couldn't just not answer.  So, he quickly added: "but, I've been preparing for them this whole time.  I've been keeping up with muggle history and science and math since our first year.  Not by choice, at first, so I just kept up with it.  Even after Hogwarts.  It's really not something sane people should endeavor - I don't think I would have, if I'd had the choice." 

Sasha knew he should probably be offering more concrete reassurance but, for the life of him, he didn't know how.  He watched, helplessly as the Hufflepuff chugged her drink and confirming their meeting for Tuesday.  "Well, yes.  If...if you still want to.  If-"  He didn't know. 

"I'm sorry," he repeated. 

Verity slowly regained a semblance of composure, and wiped the tears from her eyes. She could only imagine how she must appear, and used her hand to shield her face from the rest of the pub. But she managed a weak, apologetic smile to Sasha. The end of the year stresses were taking a toll on her, as she seemed to be more prone to waterworks than previously. Though, she barely contained a withering glare when Sasha lamented about his average score in literature, but she realized that it wouldn't be fair to take out her frustrations due to her own failures on him.

She shook her head abjectly, and sighed. "No, it's not your fault. Thank you for informing me of my misinformation, it's good to know. And I like chatting with you, so I would enjoy spending more time with you on Tuesday." She also wanted to keep an eye on him to make sure he didn't seclude himself in some nook filled with books and refuse interaction with other people, something he seemed prone to doing.

The fact that she was comparatively an underachiever would take some getting used to, but - miraculously - the logical part of her brain won and pointed out that it would not be healthy to attempt to compete with Sasha over something so utterly pointless. She would have to make sure to watch for him during meals, as she couldn't remember seeing him in the Great Hall very often. If there was one thing that Verity took seriously, it was mealtime.

The lewd drunk appeared to have finally imbibed enough liquid courage to approach Verity, and with a fluid motion she slid out her wand and murmured, "Locomotor Mortis." The last thing that she needed was an older guy trying to flirt with her.

"Whelp, I think that's my cue to leave," Verity grimaced. "Care to walk with me?" She smiled at Sasha, hoping that would assure him that she held no animosity towards him for informing him about the GCSE requirements.