Continental Breakfast Included

[kitchen_maid]

The King and Queen have a great many parlors at their disposal, ranging from the very grand to somewhat very grand.

And then there is this one, which is generally reserved for the use of the family and their closest personal friends. It is a comfortable, sunlit sort of room, where one may find the children's toys and the Amy's embroidery and Perry's carving projects.

It is also where Amy has instructed her staff to lay out a breakfast for her friends this morning. They were all shown back to their rooms for what was left of the night before after their adventures, to at least attempt to get some rest.

Amy herself is a bit busy at the moment catching up on Official Matters: giving reports to the Deputy Captain of the Palace Guard and the Court Historian, seeing to the palace's new ghost (she's settled him in the Northwest tower, which is, she assures him, a perfectly lovely place to haunt), and reassuring her husband that yes, darling, she really is perfectly all right. She'll be along when she can.

In the meantime, everyone is free to make their way into the parlor in their own time. When they arrive, they will likely find company, and definitely find a table laid with everything the kitchens could find to send up: bread and jam and marmalade, cakes and pastries, eggs and bacon and sausages, a giant bowl of fruit, tea and juice and milk.

Comments

[cutting_edgex23]

"That is useful," X offers.

And --

"You are still learning?"

[alsoagreengrass]

"It is, but, uhm - I'm in my last year at Hogwarts and I don't think I'll go into medicine."

He's not thought about it, anyway.

"We should go broom-diving sometime, though. Or dragon-diving. If you want. You can dragon-dive and I can broom-dive."

[cutting_edgex23]

X offers a quick, one-shouldered shrug.

"I did not go to school."

Beat.

"I will ask Norman if he would like it. When he is back. You will be sure not to get too close?"

X does not quite frown, which contrasts with the barely leashed excitement she's got going on.

"He is not always good at paying attention to small things where he does not expect them. In the air."

It's like cars on the highway and bugs, really.

[alsoagreengrass]

"I'll try to avoid the dragon," Scorpius says, laughing.

He won't fly into him, certainly.

Then:

" - You didn't go to school?"

He's just curious.

[cutting_edgex23]

"Good."

X sounds pleased, however. Both by Scorpius' sensible decision-making (in this case), and also by the thought of going dragon-diving again. In company.

Then she pauses, head tilting as she considers how to answer the question.

It is complicated.

So eventually --

"I went for three days. Once. Most people thought I was strange."

So it goes, right?

[alsoagreengrass]

"And so you quit? Because people thought you were strange?"

Well. Scorpius can sort of relate to that.

He's wanted to quit Hogwarts loads of times for not feeling like he belongs.

[cutting_edgex23]

"No."

X's response is prompt.

"I did not go back because it was not safe."

And after putting her aunt and cousin on a bus for places unknown --

There really was no reason to stick around.

[alsoagreengrass]

"Ah. Well, that is a good reason not to go back then."

[cutting_edgex23]

X shrugs, one-shouldered and quick.

"I do not run anymore."

Beat.

"You like school?"

She's curious.

[alsoagreengrass]

"On some days," Scorpius says, shrugging.

When he likes what the class is studying, anyway.

"Though, it is loads better this year than the past few."

[cutting_edgex23]

X's head tilts, almost imperceptibly.

"I am allowed to ask why?"

[alsoagreengrass]

"Oh, just, uhm - Having someone that, er - Well, uhm.

"I'm dating someone this year and we study quite often together, so it's not as painful, I guess."

[cutting_edgex23]

"Oh."

X is quiet for a moment, absorbing the information.

Then --

"I like dating. It is comfortable."

Beat.

"Usually you do not like studying?"

[alsoagreengrass]

"It can be a bit boring," Scorpius says with a shrug.

"The studying, that is. Dating is, er - Well. Comfortable, like you've said."

[cutting_edgex23]

"I am allowed to ask how it helps?"

Beat.

"With the studying."

This is something X has zero experience with, and she's curious.

[alsoagreengrass]

"I suppose, uhm - It's always better studying with someone who knows you? That way, you're in sync with each other.

"And, also - I mean, if you get bored of looking at the books, you can always snog."

[cutting_edgex23]

X's expression is blank.

Again.

"I do not think that is relevant. For me."

What does being in sync have to do with retaining information?

Anyway, in more pressing news --

"What is snog?"

She has less than zero idea.

[alsoagreengrass]

"It's to, uhm - Well. It's kissing? Basically."