Food. The girls had said about food. Gabrielle had approved the budget to cover it. As such, there was a pleasing waft of international food from their stand, which was positioned adjacent to the Level 4 stand. Johann explained it was only just as they were adjacent floors in London, but equally it was one way of ensuring two wizards didn’t slack off in pursuit of spotting the other. In reality, neither of them were at all slackers considering how loyal they were to their respective Departments, but casual impressions counted.

The global gramophone was a seasoned pro now for these events. It was Johann’s third, and this year he’d recruited a friend from Dreogan Eleor's Muggle Affairs Office, amongst others representing the International Office of Law and Trade. They were well stocked with leaflets, lists, strange photos and postcards of trips and conferences and great maps and plans from last year’s Tetrawizard. On the furthest side of the stand, away from their Level 4 neighbours, Stella and Johann’s trade colleagues in their smart uniforms had a crate and were challenging students to ascertain what was inside without having to open it, before submitting their answer in a prize draw. Johann had submitted a guess of ‘Kadyn Hamilton’s dead body’ in a quiet moment earlier, stating it was an aspirational guess than educated.

“You should have brought your own food,” Johann admonished their Level 4 neighbours who were eyeing up the food, “not my fault you brought live ones - could always do a slaughter demonstration…” He looked to Stella and grinned, “Did you know you were signing up for this when I asked you to come and help?” He asked, running his fingers around his jacket collar, having opted for his usual work attire of a suit, a new jacket but no tie[1], balancing professionalism and approachability over indecency if one considered Balfour’s trousers…

1.	Nuri dressed me <3

“not my fault you brought live ones - could always do a slaughter demonstration…”
 
Sasha had to assume that was a joke.  Though over the course of his magical education, the Hogwarts curriculum had exposed and introduced him to any number of strange and unpleasant situations.  They’d even been known to … prepare … a few living ingredients in their Potions’ classes (a personal drive for top grades was the sole motivation for overcoming that culture shock). So, while Sasha wanted to think that was a joke, there was no guarantee.
 
He eyed the table from Level 4 for any sign of pending butchering but, seeing none, committed to approaching the DoIMC’s table.  By now, many of the denizens of Level 5 were familiar to the Ravenclaw; he’d been an intern in the department on several occasions.  Had it not been for his impromptu decision to intern with the department, he likely would have never met Johann.
 
The food did smell good.  Sasha eyed the offerings before grinning up at those behind the table.  “So, who did the cooking?”  When it came to the culinary arts, Sasha was just short of useless.  He foresaw a lot of takeout once he no longer had the Hogwarts house elves to rely upon.  At least until he figured out how to get his own.
 
The crate caught his attention next.  “Do we have to stick our hand in or something?  Are there peeled grapes inside?”  It was hard to turn his back on a puzzle but such exercises were notoriously hazardous.  “What’s the prize?” 

“So, who did the cooking?” The familiar voice, and sight, of his second cousin and former slave intern brought a bright, wide grin to Johann’s face.
“Sasha!” The lean, darker haired German clasped his hands together and then took a step back, gesturing to the food. “A few good people from the Department. Would you be repulsed if I admitted I made the falafel? It was a personal challenge, and well, they survived.”

Since moving in with Balfour, Johann had rather progressed with his cooking. It was all the more interesting to cook for two people, even if he didn’t do anything particularly fancy. It was more fun to try things and have disasters and cook with someone else (and laugh about their combined inadequacies). Besides, Arcturus had suggested that taking an interest in cooking might encourage Johann to remember to eat properly, and had even gone as far as teaching him some bits while they had been together. Sasha on the other hand, well, he had a school full of elves and he was a young man with other priorities (and for goodness sake, enough money not to worry so much about it too).

“And no, you’re meant to ascertain it without opening the box, and hopefully the prize isn’t what’s in the box…” Johann shrugged, considering his cheeky, ‘aspirational’ guess. “Bit like cursebreaking without actually opening things. The wonders of magical customs officers…” He wiggled his fingers as if it was truly mysterious, when he was back and forth with those official looking colleagues on a semi regular basis.

“How’s it going?”

“Falafel?”  The warm grin that had settled on Sasha's face upon seeing Johann shifted into a delighted smile.  Most of the other tables that had opted to use sweets to bribe students to stop by were predominantly using the usual student-friendly fare: sweets, baked good and other nibbles that were overladen with pointless, empty calories.  Sasha didn’t have much of a sweet tooth and the need to keep at a competition weight had strangled whatever sweet tooth he’d had as a child.
 
Professors and even the Headmistress had long discovered the futility of offering Sasha biscuits or candy during meetings.  Ms. Biladeau, however, had discovered the power of hummus.  Falafel could have a similar impact.
 
“Far from repulsed!  I’m actually quite impressed.  I wouldn’t have the slightest idea how one would go about making it.  So far, the most I’ve achieved is ramen.  Though, I almost managed a ratatouille last week.”  The intended ratatouille had inevitably become something that was halfway between a pasta sauce and a special, warm gazpacho.

“And no, you’re meant to ascertain it without opening the box, and hopefully the prize isn’t what’s in the box…”
 
“Just by looking at the outer box?  Are we allowed to use any investigative spells?  And, if I don’t like what’s inside, can I go with what’s behind curtain number three?”  Would a game show reference work?  Did the wizarding world even have game shows?  They didn’t have television in general and a radio game show seemed like it would be weird.

“How’s it going?”
 
“Between drowning in exams and preparing to drown in more exams, it’s going crazily.  I’m simultaneously wishing we were done tomorrow and praying we had another six months.  I’m still not sure what to do with myself with nothing but free time.  It’s all a bit impressive.”  He was apprehensive about life after school; it felt a bit daunting.  “How about you?  Are things as crazy as ever on Level 5?”

Johann’s colleagues from Trade just gave Sasha an odd look for the muggle reference. In truth, Johann only vaguely recognised it, but chose not to remark on it. If Sasha wanted to make a stab at what was in their box, he could do it, but Johann was content to chatter about other things now.

He smiled at his young cousin’s description of the anxiety of examinations. He had been the odd one to look forward to the exams and what came next, but everyone knew Johann wasn’t exactly all there.

“As ever,” Johann agreed, “Gabrielle’s off on maternity leave soon to pop out a Pepper.” He shrugged, unsure if Sasha knew the family at all, “And you’re looking at the temporary Department Head’s advisor. Well, ish.” He put his hands on his hips, “nobody should really put me in charge of making sure someone else doesn’t do anything stupid.” He winked, given this was a reference to the fact Johann had looked after the new recruits in the past, including Sasha, and Adelia. “We’ve got a new Minister, of course, so everything’s being questioned and poked about.” Johann sighed, ruffling his curls with a hand. “But otherwise, alive, waking up next to the love of my life every morning, I really cannot complain.”

He reached out with both hands to grip Sasha gently by the shoulders, “and it’s very good to see you for happier reasons,” he expressed, making sincere eye contact, and looking like he might draw Sasha into a hug.

With what context clues he'd encountered so far (they wouldn't want to take it, home, it had something to do with customs and it fit in the box), Sasha scribbled down a guess and deposited the slip. 

"So, I'd heard," Sasha confirmed.  "That's pretty exciting."  He'd crossed paths with Gabrielle Murray during one of his visits to St. Mungo's in March.  Heard was probably not the proper verb; it would be more accurate to say he'd seen the pending newcomer.  "I'm hoping to be able to meet the little one.  But, in the meantime, they're letting you man the proverbial sails?  Sounds like it's bound to be a lot of paperwork.  And, paper airplanes."  Sasha wrinkled his nose at the thought.  "Will they keep you shackled to an office, all day?"

Sasha smiled at his cousin, pleased to hear things were going well for him.  "I'm glad to hear it sounds like things are settling."  It wasn't all that long ago that Johann had camped out on Sasha's couch...or, rather, in one of the many spare bedrooms.  Though their dynamics had changed considerably, it was hard not to notice how much he'd changed from the sharp, sly and distrustful supervisor Sasha had met two years before.   "You certainly look well."  Given the last few months, that was saying something. 

As Johann, himself, noted.  Lately, their in-person encounters did seem to have a nasty habit of occurring at St. Mungo's.  Sasha felt a welling of appreciation and followed through with the hug, immeasurably grateful for the connection. 

"So - love of your life?  Sounds like things are going well." Sasha offered, taking a step back, looking at Johann with a broad grin.  After his post-exam excursion to Frisky Business with Kohaku (complete with a not insubstantial amount of alcohol), Sasha could feel a spattering of questions rise to the back of his head.  How do you know.  How do you recognize the date/outing line.  But, this didn't seem quite the setting.   

Johann’s long, slender arms wrapped easily around his cousin in a hug. They weren’t too dissimilar in height now, and the grip between them was strong, a congratulatory, thank-gods-we’re-alive-and-kicking gesture between them both. Which reminded Johann he owed his mother a similar hug before he left the school today.

“So - love of your life? Sounds like things are going well.”

Johann blushed, dipped his head a moment in bashful self-consciousness and shrugged.
“Well, I think so, I know I’m not the world’s expert, but, I’ve never met anyone like him.” Johann’s eyes glanced over in the direction of the Level 4 stand beside, and his face wore a happy, boyish grin. “We’ve been together seven months now, and that’s through the trial, losing my father, almost poisoning myself, and other gods-awful moments, so it feels more like seven years the way I trust him.”

He looked back to Sasha, “and if he can put up with me and all that, he’s a keeper. No, Balfour’s wonderful, and we’re all well overdue a proper night out or dinner, or whatever - I mean, he’d love to meet you, as family.” He planted a hand on Sasha’s left shoulder, adding gravity to the statement. “Pity you’re not here for another term otherwise we’d have gone for a drink in Hogsmeade. Hurry up and graduate for goodness sake!” Johann laughed, letting go of Sasha.

Sasha followed his cousin’s glance towards the neighboring table and looked back to Johann with a broad grin.  “I’m probably less of an expert than you, but that seems to fit the bill to me.  It seems to me like finding someone willing to put up with the working-too-hard is half the battle.”
 
For Sasha, finding friends willing to put up with his study habits had proven hard enough over the years.  Though his associations with Johann had been limited by his isolation at Hogwarts, it hadn’t taken long for Sasha to recognize the not-entirely-healthy work ethic was potentially heritable.  After Fergie, Sasha had accepted that anything friendship wasn’t immediately written in the starts.
 
“I’m happy for you,” Sasha offered, earnestly.  “Even if it’s for partly selfish reasons,” he added with a lop-sided grin.  Though he’d always been selflessly open and welcoming to Sasha from the (near) beginning, the pre-Balfour Johann had always seemed unsettled and flighty.  Now, he seemed much more grounded, content with where he was.  And, for more than just selfish reasons, Sasha was pleased about that.
 
“He knows about me?”  Surprise flickered across the Ravenclaw’s face, quickly followed by uncertainty and, finally, gratitude as Sasha glanced, again, towards Level 4’s table.  His most recent attempt at a family event was still vivid in his mind.  “I would like that.  We do have one last Hogsmeade weekend in May but, of course, after June I’ll be free to come to Hogsmeade whenever I wish.”  That was still a weird thought.
 
”Hurry up and graduate for goodness sake!”
 
Sasha laughed.  Or, at least, he attempted to laugh but the result was an uneasy half giggle, half-snort.  “I am trying.  Part of me wishes exams were next week; the other part wishes I had another six months to prepare.  I have a feeling it’ll all be over in a blink.”  For better or worse.  “Followed by more free time than I know what to do with.  Any interesting international projects coming up?”   

Sasha laughed.  Or, at least, he attempted to laugh but the result was an uneasy half giggle, half-snort.  “I am trying.  Part of me wishes exams were next week; the other part wishes I had another six months to prepare.  I have a feeling it’ll all be over in a blink.”  For better or worse.  “Followed by more free time than I know what to do with.  Any interesting international projects coming up?”

“Better to get them over and done with while you’re on the boil, rather than overcooked.” Johann agreed. “No Tetra-wizard, well, they said at the end of the last they’d like to do another, but early days yet. Mix of everything lately, restoring the reputation of our dragon exports now they are stable again, extraditions, a flurry of interest in coming over to meet the new Minister, or more importantly invite him fro a political delegation… and the really interesting stuff is well,” Johann tapped his nose.

“Well you’re always welcome to put in an application, or come by for lunch. Pinn and Kelly were asking after you only the other day. And Balfour and I will have you for dinner.” Johann glanced over as some other students approached the stall and began to examine the box with puzzlement. “Have you seen anything interesting of the other stands? I’ve not been for a wander yet.”

“Sounds like an interesting and engaging assortment of activities.  I might stop by with an application; at the very least, it’ll give me something to occupy my mind with while I wait for exam results.  Some might even say I’m fairly well-versed at the minion tasks of an intern.”  Sasha cracked a more honest grin as he slid an internship application off the table and slipped it into his pocket.  Between Johann, Eleor's Muggle Affairs office and Sasha's own continental european connections, the Ministry's Level 5 was a natural fit.  For the short term or, even, the long term should his current plans not pan out. 

Sasha glanced over his shoulder, peering through the continual flow of students meandering between the tables.  “I only completed a quick pass through, myself,” he offered as he turned back to Johann.  “Last year, I was the frantic shopper, desperately trying to figure out what to do with my life.  I'm content to be a more casual observer, this year.” 
 
Unless, of course, his recent uncertainty got the better of him after recent conversations had left him with a touch of doubt.   
 
“But there were a few things that were impossible to overlook.  A magizoologist had a … colony of puffskeins?  A cluster?  A congress?  A pile?  Several puffskeins, at any rate?  But, one of them is … coughing or, you know, ... passing gas.  We're supposed to guess which.  Another is pregnant and the number of babies seems to be the mystery.  The aurors are all looking brash and tough and I’ve been avoiding the St. Mungo’s table.  I’m planning on stopping by Eleor’s table, next.”
 
When Johann spoke of Pinn and Kelly, Sasha couldn't resist a quick glance around for the two women despite knowing they probably weren't at the fair.  Someone had to be holding down the fort.  Bobby Finn, especially, was relatively close to Sasha in age and been in Ravenclaw until a few years ago.  "I'll actually have to stop by on official business, anyway.  Want to see if it's possible to get an international floo connection between my two houses.  That will give me an excuse to see them, even if my application gets rejected."

“That’s Seven, actually,” Johann corrected Sasha with a shrug. “Just careful if you meet Higgins, or you could be there all day.” He warned, and then narrowed his eyes, “or maybe you’d enjoy hearing the wonderful things he finds in the floo and the ins and outs, he’s a muggle-born. Personally I find him an acquired taste.” He ruffled his dark curls and glanced past Sasha, as if to check for Higgins appearing out of nowhere in the middle of the Great Hall, but clocked students examining the global gramophone.

“But the girls would be stoked to see you.” He agreed, looking back to Sasha and gave him a friendly pat on the upper arm. The gramophone began to bark in Italian. “Enjoy Eleor’s table,” Johann encouraged the Ravenclaw with a wink, “he’s got plenty of strange stuff on there, or Muggle, depending on your viewpoint.”

“Or maybe you’d enjoy hearing the wonderful things he finds in the floo and the ins and outs, he’s a muggle-born.”
 
“Oh really?”  In contrast to what had been intended as a warning, the prospect of a curious tinker type piqued Sasha’s interest.  As their final school year sped decisively towards exams, Sasha was eager to start connecting with those that might be able to support his own post-Hogwarts goals.  Someone willing to ramble on about the ins and outs of floos could certainly match that description.  “I would be interested to learn more of that stuff; it might even prove useful.  Besides, I’m sure I’m a bit of an acquired taste myself.  I suspect I’d be hypocritical if I pointed too many fingers.”
 
The (soon to be former) Ravenclaw glanced towards the gramophone before looking back at Johann.  “Muggle stuff still seems strange?  I mean, the computer’s fairly outdated – if it even works…”  Sasha was dying to know if its operating system was old enough to run some of the classic games.  “It’s even stranger if you look on the inside.  All the wiring and motherboards can be fun to play with.”
 
“I suppose there will be plenty of time to visit.  I mean, I know I’m not coming back to school next year but I don’t think it has sunk in, yet, that I’ll be free to do whatever I want.  You know?  It’s still so very … abstract.

Sasha’s interest in talking to Higgins was down to youthful innocence and lack of experience, Johann decided, and just offered a wry smile.

“… the wiring and the motherboards can be fun to play with.” The vocabulary brought up memories of discussions with Colin when they lived together. His friend had once tried to explain how a computer worked, along with other fond electrical items in the house, and why they had to strictly ban wands in the flat. He’d been Johann’s brief introduction to the internet (under strict supervision). Sasha had dropped by the place once while Johann was still lodging there. Seemed like a lifetime ago to discuss The Hobbit and the possibility of young Schlagenweit chatting up a girl.

“Yes. And everyone will make plans, one sort or another, and you’ll feel left behind. But remember, even with fortunes, money doesn’t last forever.” His smile was kinder now, brotherly. He’d been generally well off when he was Sasha’s age, but he knew in his adult years what it felt like to not know if you had enough money from one week to the next. Being comfortable growing up could make you naive about hardships others faced every day growing up.