Who: Zacharias Smith and Ernie Macmillan. When: July 14th. Afternoon. Where: Smith Manor. What: Horseback riding and pirate talk. Also, Pirate Punch. Rating: Low.
Zacharias had been quite serious about having the House Elf make Pirate Punch. Which was something created when Zacharias and Ernie were small boys and in their pirate phase. They had requested it of the House Elf without having any specific idea in mind as to what it could be and voila, the Elf had come up with something. Something good that they'd drank often in that phase.
He had told Ernie just to come out to the stables when he arrived. His parents were plenty used to Ernie just popping over and wandering about, so no one would bat and eye if they saw him.
Zacharias was out in the stables, grooming his own horse, Ransom. They had a number of horses stabled there, but Ransom had been Zacharias since the horse had been purchased four years ago. A tall dark chestnut Arabian horse, fast and spiritedc and a good jumper. They suited each other very well.
He was murmuring quietly to the horse when he heard approaching footsteps. "In here!" he called out so that Ernie could follow his voice. A barn cat, curled up on the edges of one of the stalls lazily watched Ernie pass.