Bright sunlight filtered down through the tree canopy far overheard, offering enough shelter to stave off most of the late summer sun.  It was just a little after noon and the sun had been unrelenting out on the lawns; after about twenty minutes out in the open, their meanderings had taken them to the shade along the edge of the forest.  Though it wasn't in the German Shepherd's nature to admit defeat, Baldur seemed to appreciate the change of pace, as well.  His tongue was still lulling out the side of his mouth in an attempt to pant around the tennis ball he carried. 

The shepherd loped ahead along the path as it wound through the trees. 

"I know it's not logical to feel guilty," Sasha admitted as he slipped his hands in his pockets.  He glanced at Max walking next to him before looking back down to watch the path.  "But it's hard not to think of all the things I should be doing."  Instead of walking aimlessly, which had no practical purpose.  "I made myself promise I'd, at least, get out and hike more.  I remember back at the end of third year, I'd wanted nothing more than to get out and go backpacking into the forest and the mountains.  There must be so much back there."  It had taken several weeks of quiet, free time back in Germany for him to remind himself how much he enjoyed hiking and trail riding and exploring. 

He'd spent the morning up in the Ravenclaw common room studying, as usual.  He wasn't sure exactly when Max had joined him - he'd been eyebrow deep in a Potions essay - but, the other Ravenclaw had been there when Baldur had dropped the ball in Sasha's lap.  He'd invited the other Ravenclaw to take a study break.  The assignments would all be there when they returned. 

There had been enough similarities between the two Ravenclaws to make them natural companions for much of their school career.  Both were relatively quiet and reserved, generally not the center of any major social circles within the school.  There had been plenty of subtle differences - especially in their approach to school work.  But, those differences had been very subtle and there'd been quite a few long chess games over the years. 

"How was your summer?" Sasha asked as Baldur came circling back towards them and dropped the tennis ball in the trail in front of them. 

Even though Maximus wouldn’t admit it, even to himself, the offered study break was well needed for him. He barely got out, and if he did, it was usually just to set himself beneath a tree with his homework. So his father’s usual words echoed through his head as he agreed to take a walk with Sasha - “Better take care of the summer days before they’re gone!”

“I made myself a promise I’d, at least, get out and hike more.”

“You would like my father,” Maximus said with a smile. “That’s all he does. He’s out hiking, studying beasts all year around. That’s why I don’t see that much of him.”

Max liked Sasha. He felt a connection to him, more than to any of his other classmates. They seemed to have the same values, and almost the same look on great subjects. Yes, Max’s grades had been outstandingly poor for the first parts of his school years, and Sasha’s had been better. Who was he kidding? Almost all of his housemates’ grades had been better.

That’s why he had joined Sasha studying this morning. Or, well, he had rather sat down next to him than actually joining in his studying (comparing Potion notes with those from Arithmancy might not work out that well). He felt calm in Sasha’s presence, like he was able to study in his own pace without anyone judging him.

“My summer?” Max looked away from the large dog to his friend, taking a moment on where to begin. “My mother got me an internship at the Museum. It was really interesting. Then the Idunna Apples got stolen.” He shrugged. “It ended up with this whole ordeal with Aurors and journalists and what-not. Unsettling stuff.”

He sighed, and watched the canopy above.

“What did you do? Did you go on that school trip?”