"Hah! I doubt she'd listen to me," he said, smirking. "We were in the same year at school, y'know. She was my wife's roommate." Wobias securely in his stall and the halter and lead rope hooked over the stall's latch, he turned around and faced her, leaning on the door. "She was actually worse when she was in school, your sister. She's calmed down a lot."

"Besides, she's still mad about Friday," he added offhandedly, and started quickly trying to think up an explanation for...that. That had been embarrassing; why he was mentioning it, he wasn't sure. There was something about Abby's open continence that made him want to tell her all the gossip he knew.

"Ahem, anyway," she said. "She'd think I was coming onto her, I'd bet."

Abby looked exasperated when the professor seemed to miss her point, then puzzled when he went on to say that Aileen had acted worse at Hogwarts. Crankier? More of a stick in the mud? How was that possible!

While Aileen had been living up to the pureblood princess stereotype in all its glory, Abby had just been a baby, so it completely escaped her notice that Professor Trishna could be referring to traits other than 'cranky'.

Of course, all those thoughts flew out the window when he mentioned Friday!

"What?" Abby stared at him, wide-eyed. She couldn't believe it.

"Well, of course she's mad at you!" She shook her head, ignoring his next confusing comment about Aileen. "Aren't blokes supposed to owl?" Abby's face flushed, realizing she was in over her head here, and for all her bravado earlier, she really didn't want to talk about those kinds of details. 

"Owl?" he asked, momentarily missing her point. "I didn't need to, I was there in the mor-"

And his brain caught up with her and most of all him, and he slammed his jaw shut with an audible clack. Oh, shit. This kid was referring to - you know - trading secrets. With Aileen. Admittedly Aileen was an...attractive woman. Physically - and she had a good brain, when she wasn't being so..Aileenish. But not his type. She was far too similar to Judy. So she was his type? No. Oh, Merlin!

"Uh," he said, realizing he'd have to explain. He licked his lips nervously, and then smiled. "She's  mad because I kicked her ass at drinking games," he said. He was a bloody genius, he thought. Not only was it totally plausible, it wasn't actually a lie. Exactly. "Turns out when she's drunk she's awful at darts. Nearly killed a bloke. Myrni's better at them than her too. And at I Spy. And Cripple Mister Onion."

"Really?" Abby said skeptically, tilting her head at him. She'd caught his slip about being there in the morning, and drinking games did not sound like her sister anyway. But if Aileen had been out with a group of professors, perhaps Trishna had convinced her to let loose and have fun, which was a good thing, Abby thought. Abby also took his oblivious behavior into account. He didn't seem the type to be able to lie on the spot.

"Oh, good. Sorry for assuming," she said with the slightest bit of sheepishness.

Now that Abby didn't have to think about any 'sleepover' dates (strictly romance please!), she was back to being as cheeky as ever!

"So, would flirting with her really be so awful?" Abby grinned, continuing on like nothing had happened. "Granted, she might throw a dart at you one of these days, but that's all a part of the adventure!"

"So, would flirting with her really be so awful?"

"What?  Who?" 

Sasha froze in the barn doorway, staring confusedly between Abby and Professor Trishna.  There was no doubt that Sasha had gathered by now that Abby was capable of some interesting, mortifying and peculiar conversation topics.  But, he supposed that was to be expected.  They were, after all, of a similar age.  And, it seemed, such behavior was common amongst his peers. 

Professors, on the other hand, were of an entirely different social status.  One just didn't discuss such things with them!  Sasha didn't have the slightest idea who Abby was recommending that Professor Trishna flirt with but it really didn't matter.  Judging by Professor Trishna's expression, he seemed to be on the look out for a potential exit to the conversation. 

"I ... um," he offered awkwardly, trying to think of a way to divert the conversation but finding it difficult to do so.  "Are you sure this is a good idea?" he asked, figuring the task at hand was as viable a distraction as any.  Of course, diversions didn't always work with Abby but with both he and Professor Trishna, it was two against one.

Tapendra raised his hands into a defensive pose, flushing again. "Uh," he said. "Flirting isn't my fort, exactly-" Which was an understatement. He wasn't really sure how you flirted, exactly. It just kind of happened to him sometimes.

Sasha rescued him, and by Merlin, was he glad to see the boy in all his awkward hesitation and polo shirts. He dusted himself off in a vague attempt to appear non nonchalant.

"We were, uh, talking about...things," he failed at an explanation. He didn't want to leave Sasha having to consider the match up between him and Reid every time he sat in Ancient Runes. That would be...awkward. And Sasha did not need anymore excuses for awkward. He had enough on his own.

"Frankly," he started, with a glance at Abby, "Yes. Friends help. Besides," he added, considerably more cheerfully, "It's better than a letter with 'Want to be friends? Yes/No/Maybe' written on it. In the long run."

"Alright, alright," Abby let out a dramatic sigh and pointed at Trishna. "You are off the hook! For now." Another grin. Flirting might not be his forte, but once an idea had been planted in Abby's head, there was no stopping it.

She looked at Sasha and nodded with approval at his outfit. "The professor's right. In person has got to be easier. If we're all ready, we could apparate?" She glanced at Professor Trishna, meaning he could apparate with them. Except that'd be a short trip, and Abby wasn't quite ready to see him go yet. Spending time with two awkward geeks was just way too much fun.

"Or, maybe take the Underground?" She suggested excitedly. "I know! We could show up on horseback," Abby laughed at her joke, imagining Neely's face.

As Sasha had had an allergy to flirting ever since his impromptu lesson in the girl's loo, he simply shook his head and ignored that conversation in favor of the other one.  Which, ironically, was related.  Self-consciously, Sasha glanced down at his choice of attire[1] when Abby nodded approvingly and brushed needlessly at non-existent wrinkles. 

"I wouldn't write a multiple choice question letter," Sasha said, slightly taken aback that Professor Trishna might suspect that of him.  But, given he hadn't managed to figure out a better alternative, Sasha nodded in agreement.  In person did seem the best current option.

Quickly, though, Sasha shook his head, taking a reflexive step back from Professor Trishna.  "I ... no.  I don't apparate."  At least, not while he was conscious.  Otherwise, it was just asking for Professor Trishna to get splinched.  The mere thought of apparating was enough to make his heart rate rise.  "And, we promised Professor Reid you wouldn't take the Tube."  Abby should know by now that it would take more than a casual suggestion to convince Sasha to outright defy a professor.

Sasha glanced at Professor Trishna, not even bothering to offer an explanation as to why horseback wouldn't work.  "Would you, you know, mind driving?  I can pay for gas."

1.

Outfit

For now. Oh dear. It'd be back. He'd never wake up dogpiled with Aileen again, if he could avoid it. At least Ignan's relatives didn't show up and try to match make the two of them.

Urgh, what an idea.

"I'm fine with driving, I have errands in London anyway. Err, she does live in London, right?" He added that to make sure. If she lived in York that might be more of an issue. He nodded gratefully to Sasha's offer to pay for the gas. Good on space, safety and comfort his car might be - but gas efficient, it was not.

"Are you alright with a car, Abby?" He asked. "I promise not to crash it or play my muggle music too loudly. Just don't tell your sister," he added, with a smirk.

Abby found it both impressive and amusing that Sasha managed to shoot down all of her transportation suggestions. She didn't blame him though. Apparation caused nausea, and the Tube caused lectures from Aileen (if she found out about it).

This was why her eyes widened in shock when Sasha, of all people, suggested driving. Driving! Muggles actually rode around in little boxes, at very fast speeds, and following very strict lines. No going above or below the slowpokes; you had to go around, and wait your turn at blinking lanterns, she'd heard.

It sounded absolutely loony, and absolutely brilliant at the same time.

"Fantastic!" Abby exclaimed, beaming at the two of them. "She does live in London! We should go right now! I don't mind if you crash as long as we live through it," she told the professor breezily. Abby looked at Sasha and held back a giggle. "Don't worry. Aileen doesn't have to know!"