Private message to Bill Weasley

[alt_rachel]

Many happy returns -- er, assuming the rumours I heard were correct? (I'm going to feel like a plonker if it turns out your birthday was actually a month ago.)

Comments

[alt_bill]

Congratulations. You have heroically dodged the perils of plonkerdom. It is indeed my birthday. Thanks!

[alt_rachel]

That's a relief. Any fun plans? Corax Mulciber isn't making you work late, is he?

[alt_rachel]

Oh, and I've been meaning to tell you, I met your brother. (The youngest one, Ron.) While at Hogwarts last weekend. Nice kid.

[alt_bill]

No, I'm not working late. I was worried, but no. He called me to his office to bestow upon me a bottle of Firewhiskey, some tinned treats, and a cheery 'Happy birthday.' I seriously considered picking up his tea mug to see if I could detect a whiff of Polyjuice Potion.

As for plans, just a family home-cooked dinner. Mum likes to fuss, you know, and my brothers are coming over. It'll be good to see them.

I do plan to get together with some of my school mates for beers tomorrow. I'm sure many rude jokes will be involved.

[alt_rachel]

Corax Mulciber gave you birthday pressies? That's....unexpected!

[alt_bill]

Oh, did you? I suppose the ginger hair makes him stand out. But you must've caught his name, too, then. Did he ask interesting questions?

I'm quite proud of him. We're all rather close, my family, for the most part.

[alt_bill]

Completely! I was gobsmacked.

Which, I think, may have been the point. The man certainly likes to keep me uncertain of which way to jump.

[alt_rachel]

Oh, I'd have known he was your brother even without the ginger hair. Lana Sandoval and I were there to speak to YPL about Auror work (you can imagine how EXCITING everyone found the idea of chasing criminals through paperwork in MEU...) but also to interview a couple of candidates for a short internship over winter hols. Ron was one of them, Justin Finch-Fletchley was the other. Nominated due to their fine performance in CCF this summer.

I think I was impressed with both of them more than Lana was. Sandoval-PENNIFOLD, sigh, I always forget to add Ned's name. Anyway. He probably didn't mention it to you; I wouldn't, in his shoes, until I knew for certain.

[alt_bill]

What about you? Do you have plans this weekend?

[alt_rachel]

Working.

I'm always working.

[alt_bill]

My mum always said that if you don't put down your work and go outside and play sometime, you'll turn into something like those white squiggly things that sprout from potato eyes in dark cupboards. You should get out and do something different. I dunno, take a walk in the park, go to the zoo. Something.

Do you want to go to the zoo with me?

[alt_bill]

Really? That's brilliant. No, I understand why he wouldn't mention it, until he was sure. I'm glad you were able to meet him, and I'll keep my fingers crossed for him, too.

I vaguely remember Lana Sandoval-Pennifold from school. She was a firstie when I was about a fifth year or so. She seemed quite serious even back then.

[alt_rachel]

The zoo?

All right. Tomorrow?

[alt_bill]

Sure. That'll work for me. Say at 1:00 pm?

[alt_rachel]

I knew her in school, of course, since we were both in Ravenclaw. She's driven, serious, studious, and intense -- I'd say she was born to be an Auror and a Councilwitch. (I was a little surprised when she received Our Lord's mark before she'd even quite finished her traineeship. Not half as surprised as I was by some of the other new Councilwizards, though, as with Lana I'd always assumed it was just a matter of time.)

Your brother's not in the same category as Lana -- his marks are a bit undistinguished. Not atypical for Gryffindors who aspire to work for MLE, mind you -- Gyffindors tend to distinguish themselves in other ways, as I'm sure you can imagine.

[alt_rachel]

Right. I'll meet you by the hippogriffs.

[alt_bill]

Think of us as diamonds in the rough.

Very rough, sometimes, in the case of us Weasleys--particularly if you watch us playing a game of pick up Quidditch.

I'll see you tomorrow.