Laughing he leaned forward and lowered his voice. "I'm sure I could telling you just about anything she could," he confided, leaning back and grinning all the more. "I could probably run that place if I took a fancy to." That was no idle boast; he'd been in and out of the hospital wing on a regular enough basis that it may well have been another course for him during his years at the school. He still bore a few scars that even Pomfrey hadn't been able to heal from his daring-dos.

Her next question had him growing a touch serious as he considered it. He couldn't say he felt terribly different being out of Hogwarts, though, there were a few things he rather missed. "It's definitely not the same," he said. "For one, you don't get three square meals prepared for you everyday. That can be a bit of a bother when you're footsore from a long day at work and would rather not be standing about in a kitchen slapping something together."

Of course, in the world of bachelors, slapping something together often meant popping open a can of something or other and eating it straight. He and Benji had done so more than a few times.

"But coming into Hogsmeade, that's quite the difference. I still get a bit nervous when I see a Professor, or even a Prefect badge, that I might be getting called on something or other. But the feeling passes quick enough and alls right. So," he added, "you up for some food and drink? I can't promise you a banquet, but something tasty would be quite the thing."


image