Arsinoe had been impressed by Schlagenweit's response to the note she had sent him. She had heard conflicting reports of the young man, but his response had been both polite and grateful. Although he appeared to have had a rather tempestuous year, his academic record up until this point was impressive, at least on theory work. And prior to whatever infraction had resulted in his one month suspension during the previous term, he hadn't been a disciplinary problem. His current absence from the school was not, she'd learned, the result of any bad behavior, but merely time off granted to him to aid in his recovery from the recent tragedies.

So although he was not currently at the school, he was still technically a student there, which meant that his education was still, in part, her responsibility. According to the owl he'd sent her, he wanted to continue to pursue Transfiguration after the OWL examinations, which meant that he first had to pass them. And it was her job to help him do so.

She had had a few errands to run in London, anyway. Meeting the boy for tea wouldn't take up too much of her time and she found that she could really, really use a cup. Settling in comfortably at an empty table at the Leaky Cauldron, Professor Hallett quickly ordered her usual cup of Earl Grey, and a blueberry scone. If the boy for some reason did not show up (teenagers, judging by her niece and nephews, were a bit fickle about things like that), it would at least not be a total waste of her time. Tea never was.

---

title taken from this quote: “Tea to the English is really a picnic indoors.” - Alice Walker

Even with everything that had happened this year, simply not showing up would have been too much outside of Sasha's character.  Things were, once again, just starting to settle into something resembling a new normal routine and Sasha was actually beginning to feel a little more in control of his own world.

And, so far, it had been a relatively quiet Saturday morning.  It wasn't his day for morning feed at the stables so he'd taken advantage of the leisurely morning at home before heading into the city.  Meeting with Professor Hallett had been his only scheduled obligation for the day.  The morning was spent studying at Reducto while he helped Jacoba when things got intensely busy (Tilly Quinn was still out with the baby and new motherhood) and Sasha would make his way to the stables for the afternoon after this meeting.

Baldur trotted alongside Sasha as he passed from Diagon Alley into the Leaky Cauldron.  Sasha had realized earlier that he actually didn't really know what Professor Hallett looked like.  He was hoping, when he entered the pub, it'd somehow become obvious - like she'd radiate some Hogwarts Professor aura that would be immediately recognizable.  Or, at the very least, she'd be the only witch sitting alone.

He paused just inside the back door and waited for his eyes to adjust to the low light.  There were only two tables with lone witch occupants.  One of those witches was deeply engrossed in an argument with herself.  Hopeful that was not the new professor, Sasha approached the other woman and offered a sheepish half-grin.  "Allo.  Excuse me, are you Professor Hallett?"  He asked.  He extended his right hand and added, "I'm Schlagenweit.  Thank you, again, for meeting with me," before lowering himself in the opposite seat, directing the dog to lie down next to him as he did so.