Alex is, yet again, going thru boxes at Maggies...no...his flat. He shakes; glaring at a book he holds and throwing it back into the box before he closes his eyes and gives himself a moment to calm down. Have to get out of here... have to...Sally-Anne He grabs a bottle of Scotch from the cabinet and goes to the floo - directing himself for the first time to the Perks Estate.

Sal is upstairs on the second floor, 'airing out' rooms.  The furniture was just carted off, and she has a smug smile of satisfaction on her face to see her parent's belongings removed for good.  She looks at the charred door to Seth's room, but shakes her head, unwilling to beginning cleaning out that mess.  She hears a sound below stairs and begins yelling as she moves down the hall, wand in hand.  "Fripper, what the fuck is going on? Have you let someone in?"

Alex smiles - for some reason just hearing her cursing reminds him that not everything is changing. "It's me!" Yelling up the stairs as he walks away from the floo, eyes scanning the almost empty walls as he goes toward the stairs. "I brought booze and a temper to break things with!"

Sally-Anne lets out a sound of triumph. "Alex!!" She hurries down the stairs, shoving her wand in her pocket.  She beams when she sees you. "You came by!"

Alex laughs aloud and beams back at her - his mood lightening - before wrapping her in a hug and patting her shoulders firmly. "'Course I did."

"You really didn't have to bring spirits. I'm well stocked," she grins, hugging you back.  "But I'm afraid Ive already sold or broken everything, she says regretfully. 

"Yeah, well, I have to get rid of this cheap scotch somehow..." He teases, breaking the hug and stepping away. "And I bet you've been having fun." Eyes sweeping the near empty hallway again.

Sal shakes her head and answers honestly. "I've been working my arse off," she admits.  "And you can have the cheap stuff, or we can save it for when we're really desperate and break out my Magiquila for now?"  She gives you a cocky grin.  "Want to see something?"

Alex knows that grin, and returns it mischievously. "Of course." Sitting the bottle on the floor - since the house elves will pick it up anyway - and looking up at you. "How could I resist?"

Sal laughs. "Ms. Laughton was furious," she says proudly, moving up the stairs.  She's still not accustomed to move about so freely when in this place, but she's enjoying the freedom.  She stops in front of Seth's door.  "The most fun I've had in a while," she sighs, pushing open the door.  The entire room is burned, and she watches you carefully for a reaction.

Alex steps past you into the charred room, eyes drifting over it slowly before he sneers and nods, turning to look at you again - eyes proud. "Good girl. Damn fucking right..."

Sal beams, actually not certain what your reaction would be, but relieved you, at least, understand.  "Its the last room to clean out, but I just...don't want to do it."  She purses her lips. 

Alex looks around the room again and then shrugs. "Leave it until school starts and then sneak away and do it when you can use magic here?"

Sal nods. "That's a good idea. You want to sneak back with me? We could get drunk."  She grins, pleased.

Alex turns back and beams. "Of course! Would I ever turn down a chance to risk expulsion and get drunk with you?"

"We're a lot less likely to get caught here," she points out.  "I'd show you around, but really, its just a bunch of empty rooms.  I moved up to the third floor."

"Yeah... but it's less fun if you can't get caught." He winks quickly, and then shrugs. "Show me that then. Let's see how you live when you're not sneaking into the Puff rooms."

Sal nudges your arm with a fist as she walks by you, moving down the hall quickly. "Are you coming or not?" she calls over her shoulder.

Alex rolls his eyes but laughs, catching up to her and putting a friendly arm across her shoulders as they walk to the stairs.

"I thought Aidan was with you right now?" she asks, feeling content and more settled by your presence.  She opens the door to a bright, sunlit sitting area, after you walk up the stairs to the third floor.

"He is... but... Well, I was getting the flat straightened up, so he's spending the day with my mum." Alex's voice gets harsher as he mentions the flat, and a small shiver runs thru him, but he turns away and busies himself in looking over the room. "Sal, this is great."

Sal isn't easily fooled. She walks up behind you and touches your arm.  "Are you sure you want to live there?" she asks bluntly.

"Are you sure you want to live here?" And he smiles softly and turns back to you, his eyes still a bit hard - but softening. "We're really too alike, sometimes, you know."

"Yeah, I know," she murmurs, obviously not bothered by the fact.  "We're both entirely too stubborn, aren't we?"  She crosses her arms.  "Want me to come help at the flat?" she offers.

Alex shakes his head. "Nah. Everything's boxed up... I'm really just torturing myself with it now." And his voice is teasing, but with a harder edge under it that shows he's mostly serious. But then he shrugs, and looks around again.

"Self-torture is so satisfying," she murmurs, but it's not very clear is she's serious or not.  "So, this is my flat.  I plan to pretend the rest of the house doesn't exist.  My bedroom and bath are through there," she explains, pointing to a door on the east end, "and my library is there, indicating the opposite door.

Alex walks to the door you indicated as the library, opening it and stepping inside. "Save anything from your father's library on hexes?" And though he doesn't say it, you know that he's intent on learning anything he could use to avenge his sister's death. If the various times you've heard him say he'll kill the bastards - completely seriously - are any indication.

"I don't waste books," she chides, brushing past you. "And I've already set aside several for you."  Sal walks to the desk, and points to a stack of books. "Hexes, curses, dark arts, some nasty potions.  A whole fucking arsenal at your fingertips."

Alex nods at the books. Another unspoken understanding between you, and somehow he knew it would be. "Thank you, Sal." Looking over at you and nodding again. "I knew you'd understand."

"You know you don't have to fucking thank me," Sal says, cocking an eyebrow. "You'd have done the same for me. We understand each other.  Poor you."

Alex rolls his eyes at that walks to the desk as well, slapping your shoulder lightly. "Yeah. Poor me. I consider myself lucky, actually."

Sal rolls her eyes, before she grins.  "Yeah, but you're a silly Hufflepuff," she teases you.  "So, I've been meaning to find out...what do you think of the new journal project?"

"Yeah, and you're a foolishly brave Gryffindor." He laughs again and then shrugs. "I haven't even looked at it, actually... I've been busy with my folks and...everything. But I will. What do you think about it?"

"I think its a fucking good time to push people's buttons," she answers honestly.  "I get a bit sick of all the talk of clothes and beauty charms and being bored." She sweeps her arms, as if to indicate the entire estate. "Do any of them have any real responsibility, like us?"

Alex shrugs, and then shakes his head. "I think it would be nice to read about clothes and beauty charms for a while, actually. Get my mind of other things." And he fingers the cover of the top book in the stack on the table and sighs. "I'm not cut out for too much responsibility."

"Bullshite.  You're grieving right now, but you sure as hell stepped up to the plate when it came to practical matters.  You also take good care of those you love, so don't give me any bloody lip about your inability to handle things."  She jumps off the desk and gives you a hug.  "But you'll enjoy the journals for a distraction then.  I think a lot of our classmates are finding fuck buddies."

"Oh christ!" Alex laughs at that hugs you back. "Although, I'd assumed the hormones would kick in sooner or later, really. I got sick of last year when I was one of the only ones dating... or, at least, one of the only ones with enough balls to admit to being in love."

"Yes, well, that's because you're more responsible," she drawls, pulling away.  'I really doubt very many of the others will actually be in love. You're lucky, Alex."  She shrugs.

Alex nods. "I know I am." Then flashes you a wide smile and puts his arm over your shoulder again. "So, we going to get to that Magiquila? Or did I come over here for nothing?" His voice obviously teasing again.

"And see, I thought that was why you came in here...you sniffed out my supply." She laughs, moving to a bookcase, and pushing in a book.  The entire shelf turns around, exposing a host of spirits that would do a pub proud.  "Pick your poison," she winks, grabbing a bottle of Magiquila.

"Christ. And I thought the cabinet at the flat was stocked..." He laughs, but doesn't move toward the shelves. "You're planning on downing that whole bottle, Sal? How about we share." Winking and falling into an armchair.

Sal imbibes a rather large amount at once, and walks over to you, dropping it in your lap. "You're the only one I'll share with," she points out, taking a seat in the armchair next to you.  She flashes you a smile.  "But yes, I was planning on drinking it all." She tosses the cork in the air, catching it.

Alex raises the bottle and takes a healthy swig of it himself, wincing as he always does at the first drink and holding it back out to you. "You know, I meant it when I said I was lucky." Smiling at you. "I'll say this before I get sloshed... I'm damned lucky to have you as a friend."

"I'm the lucky one, Alex. People just think you're barmy," she smiles back, reaching for the bottle.  She takes another large gulp, handing it back to you.  "I'm not sure I'd have made it this far without you," she adds, tone very sober.

"Yes you would have, Sal. But I'm glad you didn't have to." And he smiles; reaching for the bottle, happy that this hasn't changed.

[And they continue to drink, finishing the bottle and falling asleep/passing out on the couches in the sitting room.]