"Brilliant, Wellington. Bloody brilliant," Antonin remarked, staring in awe at their surroundings.
Satisfied, a smirk hinted around the corners of Charna's mouth. She too took in her surroundings. It seemed that the secret passage on the fourth floor led to the rear of the Three Broomsticks. The cheerful pub was full of chatter as usual, with students milling about, talking over foaming mugs of butterbeer. Avery licked his lips expectantly, though he ceased with a glare from Lucius. A roaring Chocolate Frog Card trade was in the making at a table near the entrance. A few more daring students, probably sixth or seventh years, had built a tower of Exploding Snap cards around a tower of butterbeer bottles. The air of that table was tense, as a student, a Ravenclaw, leaned forward to place the last Exploding Snap card on the tower. The entire thing blew up, singing the boy's eyebrows, much to the amusement of his fellows. No one seemed to have taken any notice whatsoever of a group of first and second year Slytherins entering the crowded pub, much to their pleasure of course. "Someone reserve a table large enough for all of us …. Avery, go fetch butterbeers for the lot of us," Lucius ordered, leading his fellows to a large, empty table near the corner in which they had entered.
"Inflamare," Charna muttered, waving her wand over a few extinguished candles at the table. "Much better," she observed, taking her seat toward the center of the table, in between Lucius and Severus Snape, as the entire table was illuminated by the weak light of candles. Many of them were not speaking, merely staring thoughtfully at Avery, who was drumming his fingers impatiently on the bar top, waiting for his order of thirteen butterbeers. They were the sort that were used to being waited on instantly, and as a result of that most had a naturally low patience level. At the table of friends, most thought that Avery deserved the inconvenience. Lucius had once confided in Severus and Rodolphus that he always thought Avery was a bit of a prat, and they had privately agreed. This was the general consensus of most of the group, and those who opposed kept silent, for fear of the wrath of a handful. Charna was busy staring into space, and her eyes were glazing over, until a voice broke her train of thought.
"You're a saint, Charna …" Annette commented slowly, watching Charna carefully. Charna started, taking a bit longer than usual to comprehend things, as she had been on the verge of a thoughtful stupor, in likeness to the ones she usually had in the middle of a particularly dull lesson. She did not speak, though she fixed Annette with an expression of interest, as if to say 'well, what would make you think that?' Noticing Charna's eyes on her, Annette persisted, while the rest of the table listened. "Well, I mean … you've managed to talk to Gryffindors, of all the foul beings walking the earth. Not only that, but you got us all into Hogsmeade, undetected …" Whatever she was about to say next was cut short, by Avery's arrival with a tray full of butterbeers, staggering slightly under the weight. With relief, he slid the tray onto the table, as thirteen hands each took a butterbeer.
Charna snorted, her butterbeer bottle poised as if she were about to take a sip of it. A few foam bubbles spilled over the rim, melting quickly into the wood of the table. "I don't know what on earth would make you think that I, of all people could ever be a saint, Annette. I simply … completed a task, that's all. Besides, I can tell you for myself - I am no saint. Sin is much, much more intriguing, and highly more rewarding," she commented, setting the bottle back down on the table with a grin. This comment seemed to the approval of her new friends, who all nodded in agreement, similar grins spreading on their faces. Annette raised her butterbeer bottle, and all at the table fell silent, watching.
"I would like to propose a toast …" she began, her eyes roving around the group, to make sure that she had the attention of all present. "After all, we wouldn't be enjoying this butterbeer without Charna, so I will give credit where credit is due. To the noble House of Slytherin, and Charna Wellington - our chief saint, who prefers the actions of sin," she remarked, catching Charna's eye, who was busy trying not to look deeply pleased with herself. That toast was followed by a few customary comments of "hear hear!" and a cacophony of clinking, as thirteen butterbeer bottles clashed together in agreement. Everyone was in a particularly good mood, and Avery finally got his much desired butterbeer.
"Come now … let's not waste the day on one butterbeer. How about a walk around the village - perhaps a trip to Honeydukes or Zonkos. Or something," Courtney, Charna's other female companion suggested, after most had finished off their butterbeers. There was a general murmur of agreement, so thirteen chairs slid from their places, and thirteen people with pockets full of gold exited the Three Broomsticks, exercising their stolen freedoms on the entire village of Hogsmeade.