She had a feeling that she would look back on this and call it one of the more ironical moments in her life. One could not deny the incongruousness of this, certainly, for it did not fall into any sensible pattern that she liked to identify and live her life by. But that was one of her own follies, really, and she knew it on some level that life did not progress in quite as linear a fashion, no matter how much one might have willed it to. Structure was desirable, but improbable, no matter how much one tried to convince oneself that one could, for all eternity, wake in the morning at just one particular time and proceed about the day in just one particular manner. The sort of discipline Alannah assigned to her studies did not in fact stretch to the other aspects of her life. By no means could she advocate any such thing as discipline at this moment, for instance, sitting here and getting a drink (whose lingering burning sensation was not the only lasting effect) with the Head Boy of Hogwarts. Even without that title given to Charles, this entire scenario was atypical.

Just plain weird, really.

"Of course. I should have known."

And even more weird because they seemed to have reached what appeared to be some sort of an understanding here. There was no great mystery about it, really. This was not something she did very typically, and it was evident, even if she didnt want for it to be evident. Certainly not very flattering to be read like an open book, but admittedly, one could have simply judged by the cover in this aspect and drawn a most accurate conclusion about the matter. Although she did feel that he could have been a little more suspicious about it or a little less certain that she was out of place here. He was right, but the point was that he couldnt have been, and there was no reason for him to really consider that he was right. But that was a certain level of defiant pride talking and she was aware of it. Quelling it thus, for it was both unseemly and unproductive, she offered him a part-smirk, part-smile. Shouldnt have drawn a conclusion, at any rate, she pointed out, although she was far from serious despite her most solemn tone, I could very well be the very epitome of the untamed feline.

Which she was proving very well right now, of course, with the attribution of a most clinical term to the wild cat, sitting straight-backed and vaguely nervous about the place she was in, the company and the regulars of the joint, whose disreputable facade was extremely unpleasant. And somehow, it was all entirely unnerving. She could not honestly think of a reason other than her own for someone to actually come here voluntarily, unless they were up to something unpleasant that required the uncouth setting for it to occur. Exactly what she was certain Montague was doing here, but of course, the response to her questions, the likelihood of which resulting in some concrete, productive knowledge had been bleak to begin with, was far from forthcoming.

But that was not surprising at all; she had no doubt that he was quite unlikely to really tell her the truth. Unlikely, or perhaps downright impossible, to be technically accurate about the matter. There was of course no reason for him to share and impart knowledge, her equation with him being what it was. And given the nature of the knowledge in question, one could hardly be particularly surprised at the open-endedness of his response.

Then again, she could very well have been assuming too much. In being so utterly sure for she was, really, despite that she continually kept second-guessing herself she was uncertain, and her limited conversational skills did not offer a very clear way of subtly finding out the absolute truth of it. Of course, if she was right, it meant that these were hardly the premises to be on, away from all eyes, from both intrusion of an unintentional sort and protection of an equally inadvertent nature. It would not do to push him right now (or perhaps ever), for this was not the time or the place. But then again, she was stuck here for a bit, socializing with Charles Montague and trying to ignore the burning sensation in her throat and the inkling that she had perhaps pushed her limits of alcoholic intake. For while it was not like she had never had a drink before, it was also true that her limited experience offered little resilience, and she was beginning to feel altogether unsure and most completely, acutely stupid. Although that the stupidity did not really appear to be manifesting itself so very much. Oh, she could feel that first drink, but not quite as much as shed anticipated feeling it.

Though it did not really change the overall stupidity of it, really. Convinced as she was that she was not particularly affected, as such, by that first shot, common sense essentially went against having another, especially in this given setting. Never mind that common sense, as a whole, had been elusive thus far.

On the bright side, at least she knew she was being stupid. It would have been funny if it wasnt quite so mortifying.

"The Hog's Head is off limits to students this year, Morgan, and whether you came here to persecute me, blackmail me or just to get your fix of indecency you're just as bad as I am. Ironically, I believe that makes us partners in crime."

Oh unholy alliance?

A small, amused sort of laugh, if tinged with coldness, did escape her lips at that statement. Partners-in-crime indeed. A rather disturbing thought given the sort of crime he was potentially involved in, although she could not voice that thought. But the implication was not lost amidst minor amusement, that she was hardly in any position to tell someone about this and threaten him or whatever the heck he was expecting her to do. Which was funny too, for she had not the slightest clue what she was doing here. I dont think they make exceptions for Head Boys, Montague, she said, though he was hardly under that impression. Though I do believe your stakes are higher in this equation. I dont have a badge they could take away from me, after all. Not that she really intended to say anything about it, or even venture to blackmail him over it. For it would be unproductive and seemed useless, in her opinion, not to mention that he was right. Her presence here would be perceived here as just as nefarious and rebellious, as his.

"Maybe I am."

Indeed, said Alannah, and then shook her head as he pushed the drink towards her. But thank you, really. I think Ive had my fill. Oh, so perhaps she didnt feel the fill nearly as much as she ought to have been feeling it, theoretically; but she was quite determined not to push the probable idiocy in this scenario to its very limits, never mind the limits already achieved.

"Maybe I happen to prefer this questionable joint to the alternative, though I suppose I should have been warier of nosy brats tagging along for the ride. So what are you here for, Morgan? Money? If it was to place me on probation I suspect you would have gone straight to a professor. Regardless, if you want to keep that spotless record of yours clean, you will not breathe as much as a word of my slumming habits to anyone. Lest, of course, you fancy another set of detentions together."

For a categorically aristocratic snot who breaks the norm himself, youre rather quick to assume things about a person, she said, pointing out yet again that this could quite possibly be a frequent occurrence. There was nothing upon her person that could have indicated her manners of seeking pleasure, and he really was a bit presumptuous in his judgments. If accurate. And there was that she was in part responding to the rather insulting insinuation abut her motives of blackmailing him for something as petty as money, really. Oh, perhaps she didnt have as much as he did, but she was not that much in need. Although coming form Montague it was not entirely unexpected, though it frustrated her that she was apparently not worth giving a deeper motive than blackmail. She shrugged, giving him a slightly hard look, though it was cushioned with somewhat uncharacteristic derision. And oh believe me, Montague, I have no intention to tattle on your more questionable pursuits at despicable places of this sort. You have nothing to fear from me in that department. As delightful as our time together truly was, she added, sardonically. Too much of a good thing, you know. And as mentioned, I was just here to get a drink. But fancy meeting you here and catching up on old times. So perhaps her drink had had a little effect, the words flowing in an acerbic fashion that she rarely adopted otherwise, the words flowing easily.

It was easy to randomly taunt him, especially when at the end of it all, it was all that she could really do.