"I'd wager that your sister knows a good deal more about those kinds of questions than I do actually.  Do the two of you talk about Hogwart's current events rather often?"

"Oh, she definitely does," Abby gave an authoritative nod of her head. "She just doesn't like to talk about her students beyond their marks and all. It's not 'appropriate'," she mimicked her sister's tone, even pursing her lips in the same way as she said it.

"So yeah, she's boring like that. A student's perspective would be much more exciting!" She nudged him with her elbow and grinned teasingly. Perhaps he'd be more open to talking about Hogwarts later.

When he nervously stumbled through his words, Abby cocked her head to one side and stared at him as if he were a gnome she just found uprooting the garden. The problem with shy people was that she never knew if they acted so hesitant because talking made them nervous, or because being around her made them nervous, or if they just wanted to be left alone! So confusing!

Still, Abby was the type to assume that unless a person was outright rude, they wanted to spend time with her. Because she was just that charming! Ha.

"...but I guess most of them are acquaintances really.  It's hard getting to know people...sometimes!"

"It is!" She lamented. "There are all these little groups and cliques. Impossible to get into if you're not-" she cut herself off and glanced at him quickly. "Ah, not what they expect." Who was stumbling over words now?

Abby took a gulp of hot cider, coughed a bit, and gave him another cheery smile.

Percy noticed the similar facial expression that the sisters shared.  It took a great attention to detail to note such a trivial matter, but Percy was a very eager pupil when it came to Aileen-ology! 

"Wow, you just really reminded me of Ailee-err...Professor Reid."

Percy shook his head and waved a hand dismissively to Abigail's statement regarding her sister being boring.

"Oh, Professor Reid's much more interesting I'm sure.  She must be wonderful to get to spend time with."

Uh oh...was Percy's crush starting to show?  He cleared his throat and smiled somewhat, diverting his eyes to the snowy streets around them both.  There was something beautiful and peaceful about the snow covered environs. 

As for Percy's own awkwardness, if Abigail stuck around to learn Percy and to find out more about how he interacted with others...she'd quickly realize the truth about his somewhat lacking social skills.

Percy was rather surprised to hear Abigail identifying with his difficulty in building friendships out of acquaintances.  He nodded in agreement, but couldn't help his curiosity.  He had simply assumed that Professor Reid's little sister attended Hogwart's too...especially meeting her here in Hogsmeade.

"Which house are you in?"

"You should try living with her," she giggled after Percy insisted that 'Professor Reid', a title Abby had yet to get used to hearing, was interesting and wonderful to spend time with. Percy just needed to spend one week living in her house, and he'd quickly find out all her little quirks and weird habits. Like how she'd leave her tea sitting out for the entire day and yet complain at Abby whenever she forgot to use a coaster. Or how she'd slip off her shoes in the middle of the hallway so Abby always tripped over them. Or how-

Bugger it. He'd asked.

"Oh, I'm not," she let out a little laugh. "Never got the Hogwarts letter. So I study at home with a private tutor- as much as I can anyway, without magic or a wand," she shrugged.

Abby suddenly seemed very interested in sipping her hot cider, and tried not to stare at Percy too much, though she was curious to see his reaction.

"Why? What house do you think I'd end up in if I could go?" She wondered, raising her eyebrows at him teasingly. "Don't just say Ravenclaw 'cause you're biased."

From what she'd heard of the houses, she didn't feel much like a Ravenclaw, like her brother Simon had been. Slytherin? Possibly, though she wasn't ambitious like the rest of her family. Then again, she hadn't had the same opportunities they'd had, or been encouraged in the same way.

Percy smiled and seemed to drift off for just a moment.  In his mind, Percy imagined responding with an eager "Okay!  When do I move in?"  But instead...Percy simply nodded in an understanding fashion.

However, he was surprised when Abigail told him that she wasn't enrolled at Hogwart's.

"Oh really?  I'd just assumed...with your sister teaching there.  So how do you like it?  How's your tutor?"

It was strange that Percy was beginning to communicate in question and answer format, without tormenting himself over it.

"Well, we have only just met.  But if I had to answer...I would think...possibly a Gryffindor?"

In Percy's mind, the Gryffindor house was perhaps the highest aspiration.  So many famous witches and wizards came from that house and made such impressive names for themselves.  Bravery was something that Percy truly admired and perhaps it was because he felt in such short supply of it.  Abigail seemed so outgoing...bold...and daring.  Their little sledding adventure had proven that!

"But there's certainly nothing wrong with Ravenclaws."

Percy smiled faintly, hoping that Abigail was amused.

Abby stared at Percy for a moment, stunned by his casual response. She wondered if he'd understood what 'not getting a Hogwarts letter' meant. He was either very openminded, or she needed to spell out 'squib' for him, and Abby wasn't about to make a big fuss over it. She'd told him, hadn't she? If he didn't quite get it, that wasn't her fault, was it?

"Oh, it's alright I suppose." Truth be told, private tutoring often bored her, just because she saw the same face every day and the two of them fell into the same routine. She liked being around people, especially people her own age, and the stuffy old tutor just wasn't very exciting.

But when Percy suggested that she might have been in Gryffindor, Abby burst out laughing. Better a squib than a Gryffindor, she could almost hear her mother saying.

"I'm sorry," she giggled. "It's just - Aileen would die," she touched his arm and shook her head as if the amusement was too much.

"Not that she has anything against Gryffindors!" Abby clarified. Not against Gryffindor students, anyway. And she was even friends with that Myrni person, who'd been a Gryffindor. "It's just, when most of your family is in one house they tend to think it's the best thing ever."

She shot him a sidelong, flirty look, "But you're right, there's nothing wrong with Ravenclaws. They're like the cute, geeky types. Some of them spend so much time in their heads that they don't even notice they've stepped into the middle of a sledding race," Abby laughed again and nudged his arm with her elbow.

Why was Abigail staring at him that way?  Percy (who was always uncomfortable it seemed) was growing more uncomfortable by the second.  If he'd broken it down logically...he wouldn't have been bothered that a pretty girl was staring at him and paying him attention, but logic and feelings rarely went hand in hand.

Percy had considered that perhaps Abigail possessed no magical aptitude, though he doubted it.  However, Percy didn't care in the least which was the truth.  It would be an interesting piece of information that really didn't matter to him.

"I imagine it would be relaxing.  Not having any outside distractions...just you, your tutor, and your work.  It sounds rather nice to me."

The bookish one began to fade off into a dreamworld of Professor Reid being his own private tutor.  A delighted sigh was produced before he snapped back to reality upon Abby's laughter.

"Oh?  Ohhhh....I see."

Percy wanted to mention that Professor Reid was the only Slytherin (alumni or otherwise) that he really felt comfortable with.  Perhaps "comfortable" was a bit of a stretch, but he liked and respected her anyway.

Did...Abby just give him a "look?"  She called Ravenclaws "cute."  Sure, there was also the "geeky" stigma that he was trying so desperately to shed...but "cute" alluded to him!  Didn't it?  Abby thought he was cute?!?  Well...unless some other Ravenclaw had ambled out into a sledding race...the nudge and repeated laughter was a good indicator that this was not the case.  Percy bit the corner of his bottom lip and glanced around sheepishly as he muttered bashfully under his breath.

"Thanks..."

Abby somehow resisted wrinkling her nose at Percy's statement that just focusing on the work with a tutor sounded great to him. Relaxing. Pshaw! If Abby got any more relaxed during lessons she'd start drooling on her textbooks and snoring like a troll. As it was, the glazed, inattentive look in her eye was a common sight.

What Abby did find adorable was the uncertain, sheepish look he got on his face when she indirectly called him cute. He even thanked her! Merlin's boxers, she didn't know these types of guys existed in the real world.

"You are very welcome," she told him seriously, though she kept fighting a smile and she couldn't stand to look at him for more than a few seconds because she knew she'd burst out into giggles. "Anytime," Abby patted his arm, grinned.

She took one last sip of her cider and dumped the cup into a rubbish bin before glancing back at Percy and frowning at their burden: the sled. Good thing she didn't have to carry it.

"Ready?" She glanced up the hill, about to lead the way.

Percy was far more scholastically comfortable than most students were.  There were very few who felt more at home in a classroom than anywhere else with other people present.  Of course Percy liked to escape into his own little dream world where he could be the ruler of it and things could go his way and he could feel happy, comfortable, and succeed in his endeavors.  Everything simply worked perfectly!

As Abby thanked him and patted his arm, Percy bit his lower lip again.  At this point he was fortunate to have any remaining tissue there it seemed...Abby had flirted with him and complimented him.  Though Percy was scared to make a move, he thought it was justified and would make him far more comfortable in the long run if he attempted it.

"Hey uh...Abby?  I was wondering if you'd like to...go to a New Year's party.  There's a bonfire at the Flickwick residence on the 31st of December...if you'd like to go?"

Of course...Percy planned on going too.  But technically he wanted Abby to go *with* him.  He nodded and followed along with Abby.

Abby froze, then turned around. She stared at him as if he'd just spoken gobbledygook.

"Are you serious?" A pause.

"Definitely!" Abby grinned, trudged forward in the snow, and hugged him. Alright, so she'd just met him. And her mother often commented on her 'lack of boundaries'. But Abby was thrilled! She let him go after a moment and stood there smiling at him. Then she started talking, and at the rate she spoke, he'd be lucky if he caught every other word.

"What time is the party? What's the dress code? Which sister sent out the invites?"

She took a breath, "This is so exciting! I really didn't wanna go to the stuffy formal party my parents were planning, and since Aileen shortened the Egypt trip it looked like we were going to have to, but now she'll just have to go to our parent's without me," she stopped and let out a snicker. "And I'll get to go to a real party, with you."

This was better than Christmas. Though Abby had a few worries, a tinge of guilt that Percy might not have caught on that she was a squib, she was too excited about the party to let it deter her from agreeing.

"It is with you, right?"

The look on Abby's face actually made Percy wary...He backpedaled slightly and nodded with a questioning look.

"Yes...?"

The sudden transformation shocked Percy and he was startled by the abrupt hug.  He blinked and then awkwardly reached his arms up...as if trying to think how to hug her appropriately, as if he might break her or communicate the wrong signals by hugging without proper placement.

Upon reflection...the sudden leap in moods seemed to be one in Percy's favor.  But then came the rapid firing questions.  With the Ravenclaw evaluating every little facial twitch or expression, every body movement, and every word...it was a lot to process at far too quick a rate.

"What time is the party? What's the dress code? Which sister sent out the invites?"

"I don't-I'm not-I think..."

Percy actually was expecting to be interrupted a third time when the interruption lagged behind, then when Percy began to respond...the next wave of questions assailed him.

"Maybe Soph-Oh well-that's ni-..."

Did Abby actually single out how excited she was to be going to a real party...with HIM?!?  She was excited!  Excited!  This WAS better than Christmas!!!

"It is with you, right?"

"Huh what?  Oh yes!  Yes of course.  If that's...alright with you?"

"Well, duh," she rolled her eyes at him in response, grinned, and hooked her arm with his. Yeah, definitely a 'lack of boundaries' on her part. But her mother wasn't here to see, now was she?

"This is going to be fantastic," she said the last word in a singsong voice, totally oblivious that the poor boy hadn't been able to get a word in edgewise earlier.

"What time did you say the party was?" She paused for a few seconds, glanced at him. "Would you be alright with stopping by my house- I mean, Aileen's house, before? Not too early," she clarified. "We don't wanna be the first ones there. But then we can floo there, or my sis, if she's feeling nice, can apparate with us."

Aileen wouldn't believe she'd actually snagged an invite to a party! A real party. A teenage party. Abby couldn't be entirely sure which she was more excited about - that Percy, a nice boy, had asked her, or that she got to go!

So Abby really looking forward to going...with him!  Was this a date?  Or was it just two friends hanging out?  Percy's mind was spinning at the possible implications.  Abby's excitement simply made Percy smile.  He was glad to have made her happy and that the thought of spending more time with him...at least at this one particular event...excited her.

"Um, actually I believe it's...Oh yes!  Of course!"

Percy was perhaps a bit too eager to go to the Reid family home.  He'd get to see Aileen out of the classroom setting!  Ahhh....

"That sounds quite smashing to me!"