"I'd say so," he commented, amused at Sloane's whining. Ned climbed back onto his feet and slid his hands into his pockets, seeing right through her mischief, but he played along by surveying the grounds for any other living souls. The closest people were a pair of first years who seemed to be having a grand old time pelting each other with rocks.

Ned smirked when Sloane agreed about her idleness, "And that's exactly why I needed to be sure I didn't have to cart you off to the Hospital Wing." Although he sounded like he was joking, there was a little bit of truth there. It was concerning to see her out of sorts.

"Maybe down the shore a little ways?" He suggested, starting to stroll in that direction, not in any hurry. "I heard a group of Hufflepuffs babbling about mermaids on my way down. Maybe we'll spot some." He doubted it, but he figured it might sound more like an adventure to Sloane than his original plan of bird watching.