He'd been sitting in the castle all morning, going over a few notes he had written down earlier that week.  He wasn't looking forward to exams, but he had some time yet so he decided to take a break from his self-imposed studying.  He took a side trip towards his dorm to put his books up and then made his way slowly through the castle to the courtyard.  It was warmer out today, and the weekend, so his short-sleeved shirt was welcome in the warm air.

He ambled along the side of the courtyard and stopped at one of the open spots and just leaned against the pillar and stood there.  There weren't many people that he talked to at Hogwarts, but right about now he'd kill for someone to talk to.  He almost wished one of his siblings was at Hogwarts, but they were either too young or forced to go to Beauxbatons. 

After the exam practice session with Moira, Sasha was ready for some fresh air and a break.  He'd give himself just a little bit to relax before launching into another all nighter.  Three weeks from now, they would be done and launching themselves at whatever awaited them in the real world. 

With Baldur faithfully at his heels, Sasha had returned to Ravenclaw tower to put his things away and fetch his football from underneath his bed.  He tucked the white and black ball under his elbow and headed outside, the German Shepherd ever in tow.  The warm sun felt rejuvenating as they made their way out into the courtyard.  Sasha let the football drop to the ground and dribbled it a few steps before kicking it across the pavement.  Baldur wagged his tail and bounded after the ball. 

Sasha spotted his fellow classmate on the other side of the courtyard and offered a wave.  "If we're bothering you, let us know.  I can take him out to the lawns." 

Asher noticed Sasha coming into the courtyard with his dog and waved back when the other boy did so first.  It must be nice to have your beloved pet here at Hogwarts.  He'd had to leave his pup at home cause it was the family dog and his sisters would of missed it too much.  Asher watched the dog run after the football and then stepped away from the pillar he was leaning against and walked forwards.

"No bother really, actually, quite a nice change from the boredom I'm currently suffering." Asher said with a smile as he watched the dog pounce and play with the ball.  "What's his name?" he asked, probably hearing it before, but since he's lacking on the social side, most likely forgot it.

"It's hard to imagine being bored,"  Sasha offered with a jovial tone which he hoped properly conveyed he was jesting.  Everyone knew Sasha was a bit of an overachiever.  He could have absolutely nothing due and still find a way to overload his schedule.  "With exams two weeks away and all.  But, you know, sometimes we need a little boredom to recuperate." 

So he'd been told, at least.  He still hadn't mastered that part of it.  For the last year, there were only two things that reliably prompted breaks: occasionally falling asleep at one of the tables in Ravenclaw tower out of pure exhaustion and the German Shepherd insisting on going outside. 

"His name's Baldur.  He has been known to be a bit full of himself, but he's good-natured.  Taking a study break?" 

"Nice name." he said as the other boy told him, "Yeah, I need a break every now and then or I think my head might explode.  But I really have to do well on my exams." He did too, he had no desire to not do well and have to go home to his parents and sisters and have to stay there until he found employment somewhere.  It was bad enough growing up in that house, he didn't want to go back.

"At least it's nice out." he said lamely, not really knowing what to say and just blurting the first thing that came into his head.

Sasha nodded quietly, though he couldn't help but wonder how Asher could have made a comment so calmly.  While top marks in Divination have eluded him since his third year, he couldn't remember ever doing poorly on an exam.  The thought of speculating about doing well, as if the alternative was a potential, was enough to feel anxious.  He knew they were supposed to be taking a break, but he couldn't resist asking, "are you concerned about any of them?"

"Do you have any plans after Hogwarts?" Sasha asked.  With exams coming up quickly, these questions were becoming common occurrences among the seventh years.  Their thoughts were swiftly turning towards the days when the castle would no longer be home. 

Asher thought for a moment about the question that was asked, "I guess I'm a little worried about all of them in general.  But I'm not sure I will ace my Potions exam.  Good marks have eluded me always in that class." He shifted his weight from one foot to the other and went back to watching the dog.  "What about you?"

In the back of his head, Asher wondered why talking to others was most often hard for him.  He had a large family, so that wasn't the problem.  He just never got the social part of Hogwarts.  He came to take classes, get good marks and be hopefully able to get a decent job after Hogwarts so he could take care of his sisters if something should happen to his parents.  He really wanted to help the two sisters who wanted to go to Hogwarts, but he knew that his mother wouldn't dare let two of her darling girls go anywhere but Beauxbatons.

"I'm just ready for them to be over already." he said, anxiousness creeping into his voice.

What about him.  Was he worried about any exams?  After thirteen years of schooling, Sasha had enough experience to know that his typical answer to such a question had the potential to cause annoyance in his classmates.  Yes, he was worried.  But, he was worried about whether he'd achieve perfect scores and that wasn't always a worry others shared. 

"I took some muggle exams last month that I'm a little worried about.  I'm always a little worried about Divination."  Again, it was a 'chasing the perfect score worry' rather than worrying about whether he'd pass.  "I'm feeling good about the rest of them.  It's just a matter of surviving all those tests."  Like Asher, he was starting to feel like he was ready to be done. 

He had noticed Asher hadn't answered the question about life after Hogwarts.  "Still not sure what you want to do after Hogwarts?  Or, just tired of the question?"  Sasha asked, well aware it could be both.  "We're getting it all the time, these days."

Asher thought about it for a moment, "I've not really thought about it to be honest.  I want to do something close to home to be nearer my family, but then again it might be nice to get out and go see the world."  He looked down and scuffed his shoe against the courtyard floor, "I did promise my little sisters I would come home, but I don't know.." he trailed off, momentarily thinking of the four sisters he had at home.

"I kind of wish they were over already, but then that means I'd have to have a plan."  He shrugged.  "I don't think I'm ready yet."

Sasha tried to keep the internal pang of anxiety that met Asher’s … calm description of his lack of future plans from showing on his face.  The Ravenclaw had been fretting about his future beyond Hogwarts for years; at the very least since the end of his second year when he first had to decide on electives.
 
It had taken him until last year to start to formulate any solid plans, so he could understand not knowing what he wanted to do.  He couldn’t understand how Asher wasn’t freaking the hell out about it.  Sasha would have been a wreck.
 
“It’s nice you have the luxury of taking time at home to decide,” Sasha offered.  That must help.  “Are you not wanting to get your own place?  It was interesting wandering all the booths at the career fair the other day.  Did you get a chance to talk to any of the people there?  Did anything seem interesting?”