Violet caught the tone of voice in her friend's statement--it was the same tone most non-Slytherins used when talking about their dungeon common room. No one could believe how nice the Slytherin space really was--muted lighting, calm and elegant atmosphere, unbeforeseen glimpses of underwater life--it was the best, a refuge from the noise and drama of the rest of the castle. Well, that was just as well--it was their best-kept secret, and the forbidding outside kept interlopers out.

Violet was momentarily distracted by a scuttling sound high overhead, in the deep shadows of the rafters of the pub. Peering up, she couldn't quite see what, if anything, was up there, but she decided she was done eating and pushed her (by now mostly empty) plate away. Looking over at Ashley, Violet realized that once again the younger girl had gotten her taking about her own affairs and neatly avoided sharing any news about herself. "So, what's going on with you, Ashley?" she asked with more directness than a Slytherin normally liked. "Anything new?" Violet suspected there was something going on, but Ashley never confided much personal information. Violet waited to hear what Ashley would say, but suspected that she would once more sidestep the question and change the subject.