Summer Shenanigans PV with Maisy Dane Closed

Montgomery shifted his gaze from his brother to Maisy, resting his chin on Constantine's shoulder. The younger boy had long since given up his squirming; despite looking like a rather loose hold, Montgomery's hands were similar to that of a vice grip once he'd grabbed on. "A lot about me? I hope they were good things, Stanley." Montgomery purred, seemingly unfazed by the idea that Constantine could've been spreading unsavoury information about him. The elder Babbitt knew better than that - he was idolised by his brother. "Don't let it get to your head, Monty, it's already big enough as it is." Constantine guffawed. Montgomery ran a hand through his hair in mock upset, still managing to pin Constantine down with a single arm. Not missing a beat, he retorted, "That's a shame - it's inherited, you know. When you're older, you'll look the same. Just. Like. Me. How does that feel?" Montgomery smirked, much to Constantine's displeasure. "A pity." The Hufflepuff said seriously, until he was unable to hold his laughter.

"I've heard a lot about you, too." Montgomery directed his attention back to Maisy, "From what Stanley tells me, I can expect good things from you. Although, the bar isn't exactly high, my brother's easily impressed." He laughed. Of course, he'd also heard about the more dangerous side of what they'd gotten up to, but Montgomery wasn't rude enough to bring such a thing up. As long as they were safe now, it didn't matter. "A pleasure to meet you, truly."

"Maisy, don't stick up for him! If you do, he'll only continue to do it." Constantine huffed, suppressing a titter. Whilst he didn't mind his brother's teasing, even if it was annoying at times, he expected that it would soon move to Maisy as well. Not that Montgomery would ever say anything offensive, however it did become embarrassing at times.

Maisy watched with pure amusement, the exchange between brothers. It brought to mind the way Charlie used to be... Before he'd started acting so strangely. There was a brief look of melancholy in her eyes before she found her smile again, "I suppose there's always a silver lining to knowing what you'll look like when you grow up! At least you won't be surprised! And really, it wouldn't be all that bad! Your whole family looks perfectly lovely from what I've seen of them!"

Montgomery mentioned hearing about her and her cheeks colored as her smile brightened, "We had quite a year, Constantine and I. But I'm very glad to have a friend like him." She was very glad he was still her friend, after what she'd put him through, "He's very noble, your brother. And brave."

She could gush about her friends forever, Maisy... Especially Constantine, who was her very best friend. But she knew well enough not to embarrass anyone. Too much and Monty might get entirely the wrong impression.

With a small laugh, she nodded to Constantine's warning, bearing in mind how easily Auggie and Henny had teased Constantine, once they'd gotten comfortable with him, "Duly noted. I'll give you no more ammunition, then, Montgomery!

"See, Stanley? 'It wouldn't be all that bad'." Montgomery repeated like a parrot, his brown eyes twinkling with mischievous intent. "'Perfectly lovely'. I'd say I clean up well, wouldn't you agree, Maisy?" He teased with a wink. Constantine gave him a frown of embarrassment, knowing full well that he was using Maisy as a pawn in his game. Montgomery was all too experienced in annoying the Hufflepuff, and now that Constantine had introduced his new friend, he all but gained even more leverage. "No more ammunition? That's a shame, I thought we could be partners in crime, you and I. Guess I'll have to just mess with him on my own." Montgomery laughed heartily, "And brave he is, even if he's a little foolhardy at times."

The elder brother let Constantine slip from his grasp, sitting back lazily on the chair. The Hufflepuff scrambled onto his feet immediately, suspicious as to why Montgomery had let him go. Footsteps slowly drifted in from the hall, prompting Monty to put on his best, easygoing smile. Constantine straightened up, hearing his mother's voice echo through the house. "Montgomery! Stop pestering Stan, will you?" She chided, before appearing at the doorway. Whilst her voice was stern, her face was full of endearment, albeit red from working in the kitchen. Her eyes flitted from one child to another, and, when she'd counted one too many, she backtracked to the unfamiliar girl in the room. "Oh, hello dear! I almost forgot you were coming, my apologies. That oaf has me cooking all day - I hope you like roast dinner?" She nodded towards Monty, who attempted to pass on the blame to Constantine. "That's my Mum." Constantine clarified with an affectionate smile, despite it being obvious. "Wilma Babbitt, please make yourself at home dear."

Maisy's blush brightened as she realized exactly what she had said a moment too late. She was young, and very inexperienced in the ways of romance or anything akin to it, beyond what little she understood from her Mum and Dad and Charlie and his girlfriend... But she nonetheless had two perfectly functioning eyes, and Montgomery was hardly difficult to look at... But she hadn't meant to imply it aloud...

Luckily it was brushed aside as the woman entered and Maisy beamed as Wilma Babbitt, with a nod of her head, "Thank you so much Miss Babbitt! Your home is absolutely wonderful! What I've seen of it, anyway. It was very kind of you to allow me to visit!"

Her father would have been proud... He'd drilled into her head enough about manners that they came nearly automatically these days, "Whatever you're making smells amazing!" And it really did, her stomach giving a hungry growl of agreement... But there was one other bit of business she was only too eager for...

Eyes flickering to Constantine, she bounced a little on her heels, "Could... could we see them, now? The Crups?" She had been dying all year for the chance to see them... And if he'd enjoyed Pringle so much, she could only imagine how wonderful she'd find the dogs his family raised.

"Oh, thank you dear." Wilma smiled, dipping her head. She prided herself in her house, considering all the trouble it had been through whilst raising three unruly children. To add to it, anyone that could appreciate her cooking was no bad apple in her book. "It isn't a problem, though. My, I wish all of Stan's friends were as polite as you." She praised, clasping her hands together. Her eyes travelled appreciatively from Maisy to Constantine, before addressing the other 'child' in the room. "Montgomery, how would you like to come and peel the potatoes?" Wilma invited, turning to the kitchen. "But I thought I wasn't allowed in the ki-" Montgomery countered, until she looked over her shoulder almost too sweetly. "Anyone with half a brain can peel potatoes, dear. We don't have all day, up you get." She added. Montgomery stood up with a stretch, not bothering to debate again. "Have fun, you two." He smirked, before slinking off into the kitchen with a slight hesitance in his step.

"Of course! I'd love to see them as well!" He replied eagerly, motioning for Maisy to follow behind him. To get to the Crups, the pair exited the house, speedily walking over to the shed beside it. Constantine pulled a key from his pocket, unlocking the door with a click. He grabbed the handle, pulling it down, but not opening it. Already, they could hear the pitter patter sound of the dogs on the hardwood flooring. "Enter after me, alright? You must be quick, as Jack is quite the escape artist." He said fondly, before slipping through the door. Immediately, he was swarmed by about 10 dogs, each just as happy to see him as he was them. As Maisy came through the door, they became a bit more cautious, tentatively sniffing the air. But, once they'd deemed her nonthreatening, they resumed what they were doing before, jumping up at the Slytherin as well.

It would have been her parent's crowning glory to hear Constantine's mother call her polite. They had raised her, afterall, to be just that and it spoke to their quality as parents, certainly. Color flushed her cheeks again, and shifting, Maisy smiled sheepishly. There was a brief exchange between mother and son, and Monty was drafted into kitchen duty with what Maisy imagined was uttermost reluctance.

But whatever sympathy she might've felt for Constantine's elder brother, it vanished just as quickly when Constantine agreed that it was time to see the Krups.

She gave a small squeal and followed after him, back out of the house and to the backyard. Her heartbeat sped up, the closer they got to the shed and as he noted for her to hurry in after him, she gave something of a small, anxious nod.

The door opened and she stepped in as quickly as her feet allowed, and almost instantly, Constantine was set upon by the wizarding world pooches. They took a moment, maybe slightly longer to acclimate to her presence, and then she too was overwhelmed.

"Oh my goodness!" She squeaked, "They're so precious! I never imagined they would be so much like..." Well... Like muggle dogs, "Oh, but they're wonderful!"