Order Only: Surprises of the Not-Good Variety

[alt_susan]

Has anyone else had a load of bad news at home? Mum & Dad both met us at the train, which is unusual and they both looked dead glum.

Finally, Ed asked what the matter was, and Mum told us she'd been sacked from her position at the infant school. Said she was taking a role that ought to belong to a pureblood, and put her teaching assistant in her place. It would be almost funny if it weren't so ridiculous. Her assistant doesn't even want the post! She just got engaged and only plans to work until she marries.

Dad said all the Quidditch team owners are lobbying the Council for a sporting exemption, and normally there'd be no question, since people tend to get cross when anyone messes about with the Quidditch. But he sounded worried.

And they decided not to go through the hoops to keep me on at my holiday job at the Owlery, which at least means I have plenty of time to train.

Comments

[alt_pansy]

Oh, Sue. That blows. I'm sorry to hear it.

And Merlin, what an unsustainable business model. It's just not practical on any level at all.

Take you out for a proper tea-and-sympathy on Thursday?

[alt_susan]

Let's do.

At least since I'm not tied down at the Owlery I have more time to train with Ced & Mr Longbottom.

How have your hols been so far?

[alt_pansy]

Busy, in a good way. I'm putting in a bit of time at Whiz, summer wedding season is coming up so it's best someone who's familiar with girly things has an eye on the new product, and the rest of my time is spent working at Brew, going round to suppliers and distributors, that sort of thing.

I should take you round to see the place. It's shaping up -- sometimes I feel a little badly that I'm making it fail on purpose. At least now that we're in the growing season again, it isn't quite so dire, and we can roll out a bit more product, just to keep up appearances. The logo is really sharp! The wine has an outline of Pye in a witch hat, and the beer has him riding a broom.

[alt_susan]

I'd love to come round sometime. I wish you & Ken & Jack didn't have to fail but at least it'll help the cause & hopefully it'll be useful if any of you decide to go into business again someday.

Have your mum & Prospero been all right with you and the business and everything?

[alt_pansy]

And yeah, it's been sour everywhere. Have you noticed all the 'Closed until further notice' signs on New London restaurants and shops? I'm guessing there's been a crack down on licensing. And the place just empties out so quickly after dark. I haven't been asked for my pass yet, but I saw someone get stopped outside the foo station on my way home, and New London feels different, somehow.

More tense.

I don't think I'll be walking home, let's just say. Which is a shame. I really do enjoy Kensington Gardens in the early spring.

[alt_ron]

Yeah, there were places shuttered all around the Ministry even. I went to lunch with some of the others who're applying to the programme, and Finnula's Pantry's gone and Bubble & Squeak. And the pasty kiosk down the Embankment, too.

I decided not to go by Banner Street. I didn't want to see if any of our locals're closed.

[alt_susan]

It seems to be making people nervous even during the day in my neighborhood.

I've noticed a lot fewer mums with little kids at the park around the corner that we all used to go to.

[alt_hydra]

No bad news exactly, but I've been at St James and haven't seen my mother at all. Crouch told me she has some important mission for Voldemort, but I don't have any details other than it's something she really wanted, and he withheld it from her for a while before he agreed to let her take it on.

I'm sorry to hear about your mother.

[alt_justin]

Hydra,

Does that mean you're not being kept under close surveillance? We were thinking of having a picnic and flying day tomorrow, what, after training with the Longbottoms at Moddey.

You could join us, if you liked.

-Justin

[alt_hydra]

No one is here except for the elves and it looks as if it'll stay that way. I was thinking of going to L'Estrange to see Daddy and Rigel, but he's not expecting me, so I don't have to do that straight away.

I might be called away at any point, but if anyone asks where I was I'll say I was shopping for something to wear to Daphne and Auror Crouch's party.

[alt_justin]

Do. I don't like him claiming all your time. You need to be able to relax now and then, what.

-Justin

[alt_nymphadora]

Sounds appropriately cryptic. At least you get a bit of a breather, ey?

[alt_hydra]

Cryptic isn't good. If it were something minor Crouch would speak more freely, so it's got to be something horrid.

[alt_nymphadora]

No, no it isn't.

It's like they sit around dreaming up how to be more horrid than before.

We'll just have to wait and see what they dig up, then.

[alt_alice]

Yes indeed. Thank you for the warning, Hydra. We'll keep our eyes open.

[alt_susan]

Thanks. I appreciate it.

And yeah--I can see how that sort of commentary from Crouch would be dead nervous-making.

[alt_ron]

That reeks. For your mum and all.

Mum's been fuming about what's happening. Her business, y'know, is providing a place for start-ups of a 'certain sort', and the twins said there've been inspections and new fees that're really outrageous, and halfbloods being sacked because the inspectors said. Or, y'know, didn't say, but made it really obvious what they all had to do to keep their permits for operating.

And three of the businesses are really owned by halfbloods, though they had purebloods fronting for them. Relatives, mostly. Or friends. But the halfbloods've been the ones really running things, so now all of a sudden those three outfits've got no 'employees' and they've got 'owners' who've got no bleeding idea what's needed to run the place because they were never actually working there before. And the real owners are home, trying to keep things going by answering questions by Floo or journal, except both of those are dangerous because they could totally be monitored, yeah?

Fred and George say they've been helping as much as they can, but Pans'll tell you there's not much time for anything but their own work just now. They looked a bit mad, like they've been up six nights straight. This next product line's either going to be dead amazing or just plain deadly! (Hope they don't expect me to do any testing for them.)

[alt_susan]

Yeah. It'd be the stuff of a bad panto if it weren't so horrid.