After Siobhan had swiftly finished off her lunch, she watched Kyle carefully as he too seemed in a hurry to finish up. Walking about the tables the long way around so as to wander past her brother, she overheard a snippet of Alistair's conversation with Maggie that seemed like he was nonchalantly asking her to accompany him to the Slughorn party. The Gryffindor stifled a smile. She couldn't wait to tell her best friend.

Siobhan slipped out of the Great Hall far too early to go to class, turning the corner out to the lake. She knew the Slytherin upper years liked to hang out there but she figured they could find somewhere to talk quietly. Sure enough, on the far side of the lake -- close to where they had been yesterday -- was a small outcropping of trees that should shroud them from view, if only for a few minutes. She tied her tie around the branch of the tree as a marker, hoping that Kyle would follow her before the bell rang. They had to arrange a subtler meeting place.