#aug 80

“I’m not telling you until we get there.”

It was with a mix of embarrassment and a desire to mock him that Dawn looked up at Benjy with, as he returned to their spot in the Leaky Cauldron. She hadn’t expected him to actually go and ask the bartender to switch from the Canons versus Magpies match that was currently playing, over to the Gobstones Tournament. And she certainly didn’t expect the bartender to actually do it. Not to mention the reaction that followed, multiple people now shooting daggers in their direction.

“I can’t believe you actually did that.” She could, really. Shaking her head, Dawn moved over on the pub’s sofa that they had claimed, so he could sit. “I can’t believe they actually did that.” 

Percy still felt irritated, but he was doing a good job of hiding it, for Billie’s sake and even a little for Marlene’s, although the latter was mostly out of habit. So it was begrudgingly that he sighed and muttered to himself, “Alright,” and let Billie waddle over to where Marlene was standing, following after the wobbly toddler. It wouldn’t be good for anyone it he refused just to be petty, after all.

James had gotten into the habit of waiting outside the back door of his friends work when they were due to finish. Summer boredom was catching up with him, especially now, as it seemed Remus had gotten caught up inside. He was just looking at his watch when the door swung open, his friend stepping out. “Merlin, I thought you’d never finish.”

It was a sad fact, not one that Rosalind wished to ponder on, that the moments she was enjoying the most in Paris were when those dear to her from home came to visit. She had been shaky ever since her birthday, since her incident with Jen. It had made her more aware, and it had been almost a catalyst of sorts, a domino effect of mishaps coming one after the other. But like any bomb waiting for its time to explode, she was excusing it all, squashing it down. She was creating her life here, and she wouldn’t let it be anything but perfect.

When those from home visited, it was when she could focus on the positives. The talk of lavish parties, luxurious designers, her work. Like an artist, she painted beautiful pictures, splashes of colour covering the ugliness of her reality. Right now, Esmeralda was here, the pair in her living room, the wireless on on the background. An announcement was made, the Gobstones Tournament was about to begin. Rosalind’s nose crinkled in disgust. “Not this.”

Dear Regulus, 

How’s your summer been? Well, I hope! I also hope you don’t mind that I’m sending you a letter. I wore those earrings you gave me the other day and I thought I’d see how you’re doing. 

Personally, I can’t wait for school to start again. I thought summer in the city would be rather grand, but when you live in a castle the other ten months of the year, well, it can be hard to compete. I also thought it’d be fun to have a job, but it’s really just a drag! Everyone at the Ministry seems to hate their life. Did I tell you I have a part-time internship there? It sucks. Did you get a job for the summer? Hopefully it’s better than mine. I also work at a little bookshop, and that job is quite all right, but most of the time I’m too tired to really read and enjoy it. I can’t believe adults just have jobs like this all the time and don’t have Hogwarts to look forward to. Do you ever feel like you’re growing up too fast? Like, your age number that just keeps shooting up, but you feel the same on the inside? I live with two girls who have just graduated and I know they’re only two years older, but they feel so much older. 

Anyway, it’s been kind of quiet, so if you’re around, I’d love to see you. 

Your friend, 

Mio

“How did you even get in here?” Dawn knew better than to ask questions where Doc was concerned. Yet as she spotted him in the stands towards the end of her training session, flying over to him once finished, she had to wonder how.

“How many of those have you eaten?”