With just about a month left before the end of term, there was a plethora of assignments, notes and study materials waiting for the seventh year back in Ravenclaw tower.  Both restless guilt and a restless German Shepherd had dogged him all the way from the Hogwarts gates to the little wizarding village, but he’d managed to shed exam worries by the time he reached Hogsmeade.

The Shepherd, however, was still trotting contently by his side. 

Despite the pending exam week from hell, Sasha knew he couldn’t miss heading into Hogsmeade.  Not only was this his last Hogsmeade weekend, but he’d missed Kohaku’s birthday while trapped within Hogwarts last week.  Though it was a week late, he’d invited the squib to meet Sasha in Hogsmeade so they could celebrate properly. 

Leaving Baldur curled up contently by the door to the Three Broomsticks, Sasha stepped inside to meet Kohaku as he emerged from the tumbling confusion that was the floo network.  A cluster of third year Ravenclaws had already surrounded the dog and were feeding him small bits of their sandwiches. 

Magic was an oddly inconsistent problem solver, Sasha had come to realize over the years.  It could propel an individual hundreds of miles between fireplaces in a matter of seconds but hadn’t, yet, found a way to prevent said passenger from arriving without a few stray flakes of ashes and soot.  Especially if the passenger lacked the experience and skill of a seasoned floo traveler. 

So, Sasha had a handkerchief ready for when the flames in the fireplace flared, marking a flooers’ arrival.

His birthday had already come and went, but alas-- Sasha couldn't join him on the bar crawl and terrible karaoke. That's what happened when you hung out with people who were babies still in school. Sure, he was eighteen (and had been for months).  But age differences felt bigger than they actually were when one person was still in school.

Kohaku had gotten more used to flooing with his new job at The Mandrake Patch. Travelling by magical means still brought him a bit of motion sickness. At least he wasn't allergic to the powder.

He stepped out of the fireplace, stomach reeling. He took a moment to compose himself before brushing some of the soot and floo powder off his shoulders. There were a lot of students here-- many still in their weird cloak uniforms. In his casual muggle gear, he felt distinctly out of place. Kohaku startled a bit to see Sasha right in front of him, holding out a handkerchief. He let out a sharp laugh and accepted it.

"You'd think wizards would've perfected magical teleportation by now." Kohaku grinned.  "Less messy teleportation."

“I don’t know.”  The Ravenclaw glanced up over his head at the dusty wooden beams crisscrossing the ceiling overhead and the rickety boards that were the underside of the second story’s floor.  “I suspect, to them, it has been perfected.  I think a shiny bullet train just wouldn’t fit with their style.”  He’d recognized, almost immediately, his own use of them.
 
“You know what I mean.”  He added, for good measure.  “Those with a more traditional perspective.  I suppose most witches and wizards graduate to apparition.  Not as messy.  Unless you mess up, of course.”
 
Sasha returned the squib’s grin before turning away from the fireplace.  “I’m glad you made time to come, soot or no soot.  I was disappointed I missed the proper birthday celebration but who can argue against celebrating twice, right?”  Other than the socially-awkward, slightly self-conscious folks that felt silly making such a fuss the first time around.
 
“Was it properly ruckus and celebratory?” Sasha asked as he started to weave his way between the tables.  “Did you have anything you particularly wanted to do in the village?  Shopping or must sees?”  Of course, he had some ideas in mind but wanted to see if Kohaku had any preferences.