Can't Retract an Invite Now

[Macaire Ackland]

"Oh," Macaire hadn't considered a tour of the outside. He shrugged, "Might as well go to the river. It's where I spend most of my days anyway."

[Xanthy Hinterbottom]

"Sounds good to me, well come on the Mac, lead the way" she said cheerfully. Xanthy had clearly gotten over the awkwardness of her being there even if Mac hadn't.

[Macaire Ackland]

"Alright," Mac then held up his bottle of beer as he said, "Grab your own drink though. I'm not sharing."

With that said he turned and proceeded to lead the way out from whence they'd just came.

[Xanthy Hinterbottom]

Xanthy couldn't argue with that point, so she readily grabbed a bottle out of her bag, and had to pick up her pace to follow after him. It wouldn't be good to now to get lost, especially in someone else’s house.

“So how are you finding it officially being an adult?” she asked, falling into step with him.

[Macaire Ackland]

"Um, still living at home and barely out of school? Well for starters I'd hardly call it official," Macaire replied dryly as the stepped out into the back garden once more. He kept walking down the path towards the woods further off.

[Xanthy Hinterbottom]

Xanthy snorted, "well okay, let me rephase it then, how are you finding life post graduation?" she asked, although she was starting to get a bit more interested in her surrounds than the conversation.

[Macaire Ackland]

"It's okay. Been a bit boring," he admitted as he proceeded to lead the way through the trees. "What about you? What are you escaping from then? Least you can do is tell me."

[Xanthy Hinterbottom]

“Know the feeling...” started Xanthy with a sigh, “not exactly escaping...Okay, perhaps I am. Things are looking a bit dodgy in England with the recent news about..” she pulled a face, she simply couldn’t say it, not even the alternative name. “Well you know, if you’ve read the papers. Anyway, then there is the whole waiting to see if I’ve been selected for a quidditch team, parents are getting all fussy and my brother is a pain and I fell out with my best mate so here’s me escaping to France for a week.”

She felt somewhat out breathe having said all that.

[Macaire Ackland]

Macaire waited for her to finish and paused for a moment as if to make sure she had finally done before replying, "Wow. You have been busier than me."

[Xanthy Hinterbottom]

"I wouldn't exactly say busy more hanging about a lot and feeling annoyed a lot. Look I know it was really weird of me wanting to crash with you, but I do appreciate the fact it wasn't rejected." She said turning her head towards him with a bit of a sheepish smile on her face, "plus, it's warm here."

[Macaire Ackland]

"My mother rarely turns down any sort of invitation," Macaire replied, which was to say if it were up to him, Xanthy might not be staying at his house for the next few days. Or at least he would have gotten that information upfront anyway.

"And the weather is here is pretty good year round. Even in the winters it's not so bad."

[Xanthy Hinterbottom]

"Lucky, it's not all that sunny my way at the moment," she said glancing about the surrounds again, enjoying the dappled light through the leafy trees, "I could get used to this..." there was a minor pause before she said quickly, "but don't panic not going to overstay my welcome."

[Macaire Ackland]

"Merlin, you almost gave me a heart attack," Macaire replied, though clearly joking. He wasn't all that bothered. He hopped up onto a fallen tree log and began to walk on it as he said, "Anyway, in another week I report for work."

[Xanthy Hinterbottom]

"Oh?" she said, snapping back to look at Mac, "what you going to do?"

Whilst Mac was on the tree, Xanthy followed along side, "you don't get much of a break before you crack on being an adult?" No, indeed he didn't, he had to entertain her on his last week of freedom.

[Macaire Ackland]

"Going back to Beauxbatons for an internship working with the gamekeepers there," Macaire replied. He then expected some sort of quip from Xanthy about being unable to keep out of the barn for long.

[Xanthy Hinterbottom]

Sure there was plenty of things she could have said in response to what he had said, but perhaps she decided for the moment at least, to ease up on them. After all she was gatecrashing, even if she had an invite from his parents.

"Certainly suits you" she said back, she wanted to really add something about the Deputy Head of his old school, but she bit her lip.

[Macaire Ackland]

"What, no smart comment about how I can't keep out of the stables? How I must smell like a farm-boy? Or that I spend so much time with the horses that I'm starting to look like one?"

If there wasn't such a comment, then this wasn't the Xanthy Hinterbottom he remembered.

[Xanthy Hinterbottom]

Xanthy looked at Macaire, "hey what do you take me for?" there was a pause though before she added, "yeah, okay I do have a couple of comments about it, but I thought I would play nice for a bit? You know I can be nice." She doubted though as soon as she said it if Macaire actually believed her or not.

[Macaire Ackland]

Macaire laughed out loud, "Okay, then you're really not the strange British girl that I remember. Has it really been that long?"

[Xanthy Hinterbottom]

"Oh I am, trust me! But like I said I was being nice..." there was a rather long pause, "however, it would be too easy for me to add, I suppose the horses aren't the only reason for returning to the school?" Xanthy giggled as she thought of something else, "does the Deputy Headmistress stay over the summer?"

[Macaire Ackland]

Macaire rolled his eyes; that tactic was one he should have expected from Xanthy too. Still, it made him a bit flustered while he replied staunchly, "I don't know. That's none of my business."

[Xanthy Hinterbottom]

Xanthy snorted with laughter, "good to see something's haven't changed. You still going red at her mention," she sniggered, "well I am sure you will find out soon enough if she's there or not."

[Macaire Ackland]

"It's the sun," Macaire insisted as he walked a bit faster. "And anyway it just so happens that Madame DeBois is the one who recommended me for this internship."

[Xanthy Hinterbottom]

"Uh huh..." said Xanthy with a tone that said 'yeah right'.

"I bet she did..." she sniggered, her hand reaching out to pat his arm, "you keep digging that grave." It was always too easy to get back at him.

[Macaire Ackland]

"Oh come on," Macaire groaned. "It's not like that and I'm not that bad. I'm just appreciative that she appreciates my skills enough to recommend me for the job. I mean, I need the work."