Hey, look! It's the Potions Classroom!

[Severus Snape]

"Oh, yes, that's true," Severus took the potion of the flame and started to line up the vials for filling. "I think I'll take up that offer, if you're sure you don't mind having an extra mouth to feed," Severus immediately kicked himself inside for that comment. They don't have to worry about money if they can extend an invitation to someone else.

[October Cricket]

"Oh, I assure you, we don't mind at all. In fact, I think my mother will be positively thrilled that we're going to have a guest. She loves company." October replied, twirling a stray strand of hair around her finger, "And I'm sure Septimus won't care. He doesn't care much about our family in general, really. It wouldn't make much of a difference to him if I brought a friend home."

[Severus Snape]

"Septimus? Is that your father?" Severus looked up from wiping and corking the vials.

[October Cricket]

October shook her head, "Not my biological father, no. My real father was murdered a long time ago." She replied, willing herself not to think of him just so that she wouldn't break down in tears like she had done in the library not so long ago, "Septimus is the ogre of a man my mother married."

[Severus Snape]

Severus looked up sharply at the mention of murder, and he said, "I thought ogres usually preferred the mountains. I bet it was quite an effort to court your mother that way."

[October Cricket]

October laughed at his comment, "Very clever, Severus. " She said, smiling, "Actually, he's very much a human, it's just his behavior could be likened to that of an ogre. He's never been very kind to me, or even August for that matter. Moreover, he only seems to care faintly about my mother. I think he only married her for the sake of having a young, lovely trophy wife to brag about to his coworkers at the Ministry..."

[Severus Snape]

"Maybe related distantly to an ogre? And why would your mother bother marrying him if he doesn't care?" Severus took out a rag and started to wipe up the tabletop, taking care not to leave any stains.

[October Cricket]

"My mother has had a habit of falling in love with the wrong people." October replied simply with a heavy sigh, not elaborating on it any more than she needed to.

[Severus Snape]

Severus heard her sigh and decided not pursue the subject. "So, when are we leaving for the trip?"

[October Cricket]

"A few days after school gets out." October replied causually, smiling inwardly, "It's going to be great. We're going to Greece first."

[Severus Snape]

Severus nearly let go of the cauldron he was cleaning, but grabbed it before it could roll away, "Greece!? I didn't think anything was haunted over there, but then again, I never really looked into it," he shook his head in disbelief.

[October Cricket]

"Well," October began, "The major hauntings are around Athens, actually. The rest is relatively free."

[Severus Snape]

He nodded, "That makes sense. And after Greece?" Severus kept cleaning the cauldron.

[October Cricket]

"Italy. We're going to Pompeii first. Lots of things have been reported there. It's no surprise, seeing as the entire city and most of its people were buried under ash by a pyroclastic eruption." October replied, "Doubtless, that produced a lot of restless spirits."

[Severus Snape]

"No doubt indeed," Severus stood up and stretched his back. He gathered up his vials, with care, and turned her, "Care to walk with me while I drop these off at Slughorn's office?"