"I was just wondering what you'd learned since the last time you needed me to be your friend..." It could have sounded catty, but it came out soft - and then Essery was laughing and she reached up and slid her hands through his hair, down to his neck.
School was starting, and she had to be a school marm, and the closest thing to a male friend she had at the castle was Snape. And the only bloke who'd hit on her for months was her baby brother's best friend.
Whatever he was using her for, she could use him too.