Moira sat down at one of the benches near the water and out of the way from most of the crowds. It was a bustling market, lots of people and loud voices. However, unlike school this noise was not pure cacophony. From her own trips to the market with her father and uncle she had become more accustomed to these kinds of crowds. So long as she wasn't caught up among the people it was almost enjoyable to sit and watch everything that was happening.

This place, however, was not the usual marketplace she visited. This was in Germany and she was waiting for her soon to be host, a Mr. Sasha Schlagenweit, to meet her for her visit of a few days. Later he'd be visiting her home as well. That would be interesting.

Relaxing, Moira took a bite of the pastry she had purchased out of simple curiosity after seeing one. The pastry was actually more delicious than she had anticipated, though if she was going to be perfectly honest she hadn't been entirely sure she'd like it at all. If this was anything to go by, it was very possible Germany wouldn't disagree with her, separated from the majority of it or not.

Checking the time told her Sasha should be arriving shortly. Until he did, however, she was most content to sit, watch, and eat what was left of the pastry.

Sasha checked the clock on his phone before handing the credit card to the woman behind the counter.  A quick exchange, a scribbled signature and two young men loaded the small pile of crates onto the wheeled cart.  Sasha quickly pulled his phone out, again, and double checked his shopping list as the young men started out the door with the cart in the direction of the lake to join the rest of the supplies. 

That should be everything he'd need.  Groceries for his last week here and all the supplies he'd need to close the house up and get everything back to London for the winter.  It had been a relief to return to the mountains after that long, hot, bug-ridden and accident-prone summer trip.  Hopefully, next year the school would choose someplace with a slightly more agreeable climate.  And resorts.  Like Italy.  Or the Bahamas.  Hawaii.  Yes!  Hawaii!

Except, next summer he'd no longer be a student.  Well, no longer a Hogwarts student.  He would likely be a student for at least five more years. 

The Ravenclaw spotted the Hufflepuff sitting on the bench as he neared the docks.  A duck had noticed her and her pastry and was paddling in a tight circle in the water, oblivious to the ferry churning up to the dock.  "That's our ride," Sasha offered with a grin, as he came up next to the bench.  Already, the two young men were busy loading the various boxes and crates onto the ferry's deck.  "Welcome to Schonaü.  Hopefully you haven't been waiting long."

Moira had just taken the last bite of the pastry when she heard her host's voice and she looked up at his approach. She looked to the ferry some men were loading crates on and considering the timing she assumed they were Sasha's. With a nod she swallowed the last of her snack and looked to him again, "Not at all. I was just admiring the scenery."

When Sasha motioned her ahead Moira boarded the ferry. It was definitely bigger than the wooden boat her dad had taken her fishing on and this was probably much sturdier. Angus preferred fishing the old fashioned way with a pole, hook, and bait. He had said it was something about connecting with everything more, and after being at the school she could see how magic had a way of disconnecting people.

Once aboard she waited for Sasha then followed his lead once again.


------

P.S. I was going to add a middle something but couldn't think of anything so if you want to say something else happened feel free.

“It’s not half bad, is it?”  Sasha glanced out over the deep, clear blue lake.  The sun had just passed the zenith and the typical afternoon mountain breeze hadn’t quite picked up.  The water’s surface was still flat enough to reflect the surrounding peaks. “Come on.  The tourists always get testy when we hold the boat up.  They always seem to think the Monastery is going to disappear if they’re late.” 

Sasha led the way onto the small wooden ferry and took a seat on one of the benches.  He shifted to make room for one of the tourists. 

...

Forty-five minutes after leaving the little town of Schonau, the ferry had left its load of tourists on Monastery’s dock and picked up a few who were eager to get back to town.  “I think they’ve had enough pumpkin soup,” Sasha whispered to Moira, nodding subtly towards the tourists.  “The monks love showing off their soup.  And beer.  Mostly beer, really.”  The tourists seemed briefly confused that the boat hadn’t turned immediately back towards town. 

“They say there’s supposed to be a monster in the lake,” Sasha commented as ferry chugged it’s way across the water.  “I think it’s just Loch Ness envy - or, perhaps, a distraction from Eagle’s Nest.”  He pointed up towards the top of one of the distant ridge lines in the direction of the town where an almost unrecognizable house was perched at the edge. 

"No, it's not bad at all. One might even dare to say it's gorgeous." It was a true enough statement. The ferries and other boats on such clear water, it was almost as there it were a painting that somehow sneaked off of it's canvas.

The idea of a muggle building growing legs and walking away came to mind when he mentioned the tourists thinking the Monastery might disappear. It was an amusing one to imagine to say the least, and with that thought in her mind Moira followed Sasha on board and sat beside him on an available seat.

---

Moira had never understood the fascination people had with beer. If her dad and uncle drank anything it was a drink mixed with whiskey. Though she'd never admit it she stole a drink or two on occasion when they did. At his statement about soup and beer, however, all she could do was subtly shake her head.

A lake monster... if there was one she wouldn't mind seeing it. Complete curiosity of course, since it was what she did. When he pointed out Eagle's Nest Moira thought she wouldn't mind at least taking a closer look, but that wasn't on the agenda and she doubted it was more than it seemed. An old house long since abandoned. "Hmm," was all Moira commented on about it though, mostly as an affirmation to Sasha that she had heard him.

"So... how has your summer been so far? Mine's been normal other than the average mishap here and there, like my uncle falling into the pond. He swears Da' pushed him."

When they did finally arrive at their destination she again took her cues from Sasha, following him off the ferry.

Sasha blinked and stared at Moira a moment.  There were rare occasions when Sasha felt the cultural differences between his upbringing as a (relatively) muggle German and his British wizarding classmates.  This was, definitely, one of them.  He shook his head and settled back against the ferry, his brows furrowed in thought. 

"You do-" he started to ask before glancing at the tourists accompanying them.  He held that question in check.   

Sasha grinned and chuckled, slightly, wrinkling his nose.  "Coincidentally, I got pulled into water, too.  On the Asia trip.  It has been fairly quiet, all around.  Spent most of June here, just relaxing and taking some time to myself.  Got over to Munich to visit my Oma a few times - grandmother.  Then the trip and back here.  It was hot and muggy and too many bugs; I was glad to get back." 

"This is our stop," Sasha offered as the ferry pulled alongside the boathouse and dock.  The ferry crew was quickly unloading their load of boxes and crates into the boathouse.  After a hefty tip, the crew loaded back on the ferry and turned the little craft back towards Schönau. 

Sasha started to load the supplies into the back of a small, motorized cart but, quite quickly, that burning question came back.  "You do know about the war, don't you?"  Sasha asked.  Yes, the wizarding and muggle worlds were separated to some degree, but...  "Not the wizarding one, the last World War.  Around the time of Grindelwald?" 

Moira offered Sasha a friendly smile. "I'm sure I'll hear about it again back at school but hearing your version makes me very glad I didn't go. No doubt I'd have enjoyed some of it but I think, overall, I would have been miserable. Still, the rest of your summer sounds nice. I'm glad."

Moira helped him when he began loading things onto the cart, ignoring any attempts he might have made to stop her. She wasn't going to stand idly by when there was something to be done. Hearing his question though made her pause briefly before continuing.

"I don't, honestly. Wars aren't really something my dad or uncle bring up, though I know they keep up with what's happening in the world. If they talk about things like that, even historical ones, they don't when I'm around. Maybe it's because of my disinterest. I do have a habit of glazing over when they start talking social things if it's not to do with the market."

Once the supplies were done and loaded Moira eyed the seats up front in a kind of non-skeptical scrutinizing way before sitting at his insistence.

Sasha shook his head, baffled and uncertain if, or how, he should respond.  He thought back to his early History of Magic classes as, with Moira’s help, the last of the crates and boxes were loaded onto the cart.  Had they really not touched on the war at all?  Or, perhaps, only in passing and only glazing over the broader concept? 

With a shrug, Sasha climbed into the driver’s seat of the cart.  Explaining World Wars or why Eagle’s Nest was so popular amongst American tourists was hardly the way to start a vacation.  He was more than happy not to be the one to explain such things so he turned his attention to the present. 

“Well - welcome to Waldgraf home.  This belonged to my mother’s family.  The Schlagenweits were from a bit further West.  Most of what you can see is ours - there are trails that cut back into the mountains and a lot of alpine lakes within a day to two day’s ride of here.”  He started the cart and turned it towards the barn, casting a glance at Moira.

“No fancy flying horses, of course.  They’re all boring, earth-bound ones.  Though, I suppose, a cross country course would be actually be more boring if you just flew over the obstacles.  I’ve always wondered what mounted sports they have in the wizarding world.”

Sasha spent a few moments quiet after her answer before he decided to move on in their conversation. Moira had no inclination to stop him to find out what his interests in asking were and instead listened as he described what land belonged to his family. It was a good chunk of land, no mistake about that. Larger than her own home and that was a good sized piece of land as well.

His home was one she wouldn't mind exploring. No doubt there would be some time to look around the immediate surroundings at least, he was always busy and no doubt had business to attend to if the crates were any indication.

Something he said did prick at her attention more fully however. Moira understood it was some form of horse competition but... "What is... cross country exactly? I take it since they're muggles and regular horses they don't actually go from one end of the country to the other in this... sport?"

His curiosity of wizard horse sports was something she also didn't know the answer to. How could she, tucked away in the highlands as she liked to be.