Order Only: Diagon Alley

[alt_justin]

Hullo, Juniors,

I say, who's up for a shopping trip? Any chance you could get free on Friday lunchtime? We could pop over to Diagon Alley and pick up our books and such, what, if you've a mind.

-Justin

Comments

[alt_sally_anne]

Count me in.

[alt_ginny]

I think I could come.

[alt_pansy]

Yes please!

[alt_hydra]

Yes, please.

Private Message to Hydra

[alt_justin]

Dux,

Obviously, I got your owl. The downside is that I shan't be free all afternoon; I'll have to return to the office as usual, what, but at least it'll be an hour we can spend together.

Harry hasn't said anything yet. Did you ask if he'll come? In case your mother or Auror Crouch gets shirty, if you follow me.

Love,

Justin

[alt_ron]

Brilliant. I'm really ready to get back. I mean, I'll even be glad to be fussed at by Madam Pomfrey. Loads better than being patched up by Healer Blaggett here in the department. That's no fun, let me tell you! All grunching about how we're whingeing over scratches and scrapes, and how Aurors used to have spine, and how it all went wrong when they started the crèche school.

Yeah, anywiz. I'm sitting around this morning, waiting for the first of my 'exit' interviews. Travers and Braithewaite and Cornelius are in with Hooper now. They've done with Derwent, so it's just me and Davies left, and he's not feeling talkative today. Must've had a bit too much down the pub last night. Not complaining, though. This is the most time I've had to sit and think about things all summer. Yeah, they're not big on sitting here. Nor thinking things over.

Private Message to Ron

[alt_justin]

Ron,

I'm sure your interviews will go well, old man. You've certainly been applying yourself. Did you manage another injury, then?

Sorry, I suspect we've discussed it already but are you in next week or not? Pontner's wanting me to stay on right up until the end of the month, he's that impressed.

Only it's dull as dishwater here this afternoon, as well. Some of the lads are planning to go down to the seventh floor as they've heard there's a cake for someone's birthday. Think you'll be done by then? Cox says it's to start about half-three.

Did Ginny have anything else to report about your Mum? I say, the last two times I've been round to the town house there hasn't been anything else about Percy.

Oh, but the reason I asked about next week is that we should start packing up for school, what, so there's time to clean the flat. I say, I will miss the neighbourhood. We might ask Mr Waits about coming back after next year. What do you think?

-Justin

Re: Private Message to Ron

[alt_ron]

Let's do ask Waits if we could have it next year. If he doesn't get someone in there for a longer lease, that is. Cleaning shouldn't take too long, should it? They're shifting us off projects and next week they'll be putting us through the physical and skills pre-screening they require for entering the training programme. We did some of it at the start of the summer, so it's partly to measure what we've learned. But it's partly to see if any of us should be sent packing as hopeless and to give the rest of us a list of what we need to work on so we'll be ready by next summer. (Assuming they decide our NEWTs and other accomplishments are enough to accept us.)

Gin didn't say much more than I told you. Just that Mum's been spending more time in bed than is normal, and not wanting to cook. Which, you know, right there, that's a sign she's not right.

Ginny's worried she'll be beside herself when we all go back to school.

I'm just done talking with Travers, so, yeah, I could go for some cake. Any idea whose birthday it is? Suppose it doesn't really matter.

Re: Private Message to Ron

[alt_justin]

I'm not sure how long it'll take to give the place a proper Scourgify. There was that incident with the oven, remember, and I could swear no matter how many times we've cleaned the kitchen, there are still smoke stains on the wall! I keep wondering if we should have engaged that charwitch, what.

But perhaps if we tell him we're interested in coming back he'll not mind so much.

Surely Fred, George, Bill and Charlie can look in on your mother frequently? Or perhaps Tonks or Mrs Longbottom, if you're that concerned about her. I agree that not wanting to cook is a jolly worrisome sign.

Cox didn't mention whose birthday but he does always seem to know when anything's happening. I say, the only chaps with a better sense of office parties are the blokes in Centaur Relations! I'll meet you at the lifts just after half-three, then.

-J