I haven't been here in a while. I'd forgotten how lovely it is.

Another glass of wine, dear?

Pansy,

Thursday evening's brilliant. Say half-seven? I could meet you at your place, or at a restaurant if you prefer. There's a brilliant French place right off Diagon Alley. Very small, but the food is amazing and I know the chef from ages back. He's a crotchety old bastard, but he's charming when he wants to be, and his Coquilles Saint-Jacques is brilliant.

Let me know.

Thinking of you,
Ginny

Dear Pansy,

I've tried to write this note at least twenty times now, and managed to convince myself every single time that it's a bad idea, or I'm mad, or you'll laugh at me for being such an idiot. Well, perhaps the latter you should, given the way I'm fumbling about here. I suppose I'm hoping you'll think it's a charming Gryffindor quirk.

I know I'm a Weasley and you're a Parkinson and never the the twain should meet lest the world go spinning off its axis into oblivion, but, well, we already did that, right? And the world's still here. And I suppose I'm hoping that if Harry and Draco can get past seven years of loathing each other without the space-time continuum collapsing on itself, and if Elle and my brother Charlie can sort through the whole Gryffindor and Slytherin conundrum, then maybe you wouldn't object to me taking you to dinner one night this week?

Ginny

-------------
Along with the note is one late-blooming white rose from the garden at Celyn Cottage.

Professor Snape!

I was beginning to think you were no show. Christian Fuchs. Great to meet you.

Ron,

I don't really want to be writing this, but I have to, I guess, because it's my fault, really. I didn't mean to take Viktor's key; I didn't even know it was his--I just found it lying outside on the walk in front of the clubhouse and I meant to ask about to see whose it was, but with the match today I forgot.

So he hurt his hand trying to open his changing room, and McKendrick thought he'd be fine flying with it. She even gave him a potion, but for some reason it didn't work, maybe there was iron in the wound, she thinks, that she didn't get out from the lock.

But he fell. He couldn't hold on to his broom, and when he took a dive for the Snitch, he fell fifty feet before anyone could cast a Levitation Charm. They just took him to St Mungo's. I'm on my way there as soon as I can, but I wanted to let you know immediately.

I'm sorry, Ron. I'm so sorry.

Ginny

The note is written in Harry's handwriting but signed by Lily

Happy birthday!

Lily + Scorpius

(P.S. I think Lily plans to steal the pony back.)

-----------------------------
Inside a large, sparkly-pink bag is a silver-framed photograph of Lily and Scorpius sitting in the back garden, arms wrapped around each other, as well as a bottle of cologne, a pair of handcobbled Italian leather shoes, and a pink, stuffed pony.

*a soft clearing of the throat*

I don't recommend that one.

Merlin's Flash Knickers, what was I THINKING, not having sex for so long?

The weekend... ahhhhhh. It was fabulous. I am knackered beyond belief. I was an Inferius on ward today (that's why they train you in altered states, I suppose). I can hardly believe I made it through the day.

Friday after the Grand Revelry with Harry (bolshie as ever, and absolutely BESOTTED with Draco) and Luna (must ask her how things with Bill are - have a feeling all's not quite right) I went out in Camden and had MAD SEXUAL EXPERIENCES. (I know, all caps are so tasteless, but it was fantastic). I started out with a fabulous blow job in the toilets of one locale and then graduated to a backroom threesome with onlookers in another. I'd forgotten how lovely public sex is!

And that was just the beginning. Harry called Oliver for me and, well, he lives up to his surname. He came to pick me up Saturday and we didn't make it out of my flat. My arse will never be the same. I lost count, but I think we hit somewhere in the six-to-seven orgasm range in just over 24 hours. I'm a mess of stubble burn, wincing, and jaw strain, and I regret nothing.

God. Sex. YES. Why did I... Oh I'm too tired to ask why! It was marvelous and I think I shall fall into bed now with a hot milk and brandy and sleep. FOREVER!

Fuck Daniel and his ocular Healer. FUCK THEM. I'm getting laid and I DON'T CARE!

*the post owl stays for a reply*

Bill,

Talked to some people since we had lunch and yeah, it's pretty lean in Britain for what you want. I heard about Sutton Hoo, and if they can't take you on as a curse breaker, I don't see one of the other sites managing. Bit outside your areas of expertise, too, but that's irrelevant if all they've got are archivist and cataloging positions. The small digs keep the same half dozen people for decades, hard breaking in there.

Are you sure you're not willing to look outside Albion's rather circumscribed shores? You know as well as I do that they'd take you back at Luxor HQ in a heartbeat. And if you'd asked about this in early August, I could have put you on to something perfect for you at Lattara but they've hired since. But there's work out there for you if you're willing to go to it.

Let me know how far afield you're willing to go to get back into the field and I'll see what I can find.

Leigh

I was beginning to think you weren't coming.

Keep going, Severus. You're still many, many wards away from your whisky.

And you're welcome. I'm glad you're enjoying yourself.

F.

I thought you could use a project for the day. Much more enticing than merely Apparating.

F.

Really, Bill.

Where do you find these places?

Pansy,

Apologies for only now returning your note; I retired early last night and didn't look through my post until this morning over breakfast.

I'm not entirely certain what I can do. I've little influence over Severus myself; however, I suppose it wouldn't hurt for me to stop by after work this evening and speak with him. Marcellus has expressed concern to me recently as well regarding his father.

You seem distraught. Perhaps you should join me for lunch today. I am quite aware of how Severus can be when he's feeling beastly. Come by my office at half noon if you'd like.

Finola

This seems to be going well, don't you think, Idgie? Where is Pansy?

Fine with me but I'm just getting my...

Shit!

Sorry, Severus. Not this time. I'm going to be late.

Ah, Rolf, I find it hard to believe that your new colleagues and supervisors are quite so ill-prepared as they first appear. Dolores may be difficult to get on with, but she's far from the ignoramus you make her out to be. Tread carefully, lad, and remember the lessons you learned when securing that quintaped egg.

The egg has, as you presumed, hatched three days past. Don't worry yourself over whether to bring it to Hogwarts; my facilities here are quite adequate, and it will only be needing midnight feedings for another week or so. Besides, you know as well as I that it won't make the trip.

Your Grandmum sends her love, and suggests that you might speak to the previous Head of Ravenclaw regarding the proper handling of the students. One would assume that whoever had the post must have done decently well at it.

Take care of yourself, lad, and make an effort to restrain that streak of Gryffindor rashness. There's a reason you sorted Ravenclaw, after all.

Grandfather Newt

*a door opening*

*muffled* Is that you, Ratheburn? I needed those forms hours ago.

Dear Klara,

It's been two whole days and you're not here and I don't know what's going on. Lukas isn't here either, or Douglas. The school is completely different and Professor Sprout is gone and it's all miserable. If you're going to Durmstrang again, Lukas will be there. If you see him, please watch over him for me? He doesn't like it there either, and maybe if you're all together it won't be so bad.

I don't know. I hope you and Jacek are OK. I guess it's all right here. I'm not so sure about our new Head of House, but it's still Hogwarts, right? Write back to me when you can? Everything's a mess and I don't know what to think.

Love,
Lainey