03

[3houseswatson]

Did anyone else hear that bit about dress robe stores visiting the school in Dumbledore's Yule Ball speech? I'm almost afraid to ask how much that sort of thing would cost. I suppose if I end up going with friends instead of an actual date it wouldn't be as big a deal, but still.

But here I am getting ahead of myself and talking about something a month away when I haven't even mentioned how great Hufflepuff did at that Quidditch match! Our team really took no prisoners, and they've got a fantastic win to show for it! Better luck next time, Ravenclaws.

[Filter to Greg]

Are you doing alright? You looked thrilled just after the match, but it seems to have faded awfully fast for a captain who successfully carried his team to victory.

[/Filter]

Comments

[3potionproblem]

Doesn't matter what you wear but nothing too shabby as to draw attention to yourself. Wouldn't do for the observer to be observed.

[3houseswatson]

Oh yeah, that wouldn't do at all. Can't have it turn into a game of Where's Watson, where the goal is to find who's got a patch on their best dress robes.

Ah well, I'm sure there are others who are in the same boat as I am. I shouldn't stand out.

[3potionproblem]

They're not that bad, are they?

[3houseswatson]

Oh no, it's not that bad. It's a very small patch, after all, and not really in a noticeable spot.

Well, it's probably noticeable for you since you're an expert at that sort of thing, but everyone else likely won't.

[3potionproblem]

Well, it'll make finding you all the simpler as you said.

Did you hear that Snow's left?

[3houseswatson]

I did, yeah. Got a promotion in the Ministry, right? I managed to avoid getting on his bad side... or any of his sides, I suppose... but I know a lot of students weren't thrilled with him.

Was he your main suspect?

[3potionproblem]

No, not quite. I suspected him of hiding information but hardly of being the cause. Though if nothing happens at the Yule ball, there will be reason to suspect it was him after all I suppose.

[3houseswatson]

Would it happen so soon, though? There was quite a bit of time between what happened at the camp and the thing with the shades.

So you're going to the ball?

[3potionproblem]

There wasn't an event with a high concentration of attendance since then either. If we look at those facts over time, it makes sense to be wary for the Yule Ball.

Of course I'll be there. I wouldn't miss it for the world.

whoops icon fail

[3houseswatson]

When you phrase it like that, where some disaster could go off at any second, it makes sense that you'd like to go. A regular ball probably isn't up your alley.

[3potionproblem]

I've been to far too many in my lifetime. Mummy thinks I look quite smart in my robes. <--- To be read in an annoyed tone.

[3houseswatson]

Oh, right, I keep forgetting that balls are a more regular thing for Purebloods.

I don't blame you for wanting to stick to the ones where more serious things than getting stuffed into fancy dress robes and having your cheeks pinched by relatives could happen.

[3potionproblem]

It's always the cheeks, isn't it? At what point in our evolutionary chain did pinching cheeks come to stand for appreciation of youth?

We should all start pinching the bingo wings on old ladies as a show of respect to their age. Eventually the tradition should stop.

[3houseswatson]

[There may be a fair few inkblots from a severe bout of giggling.]

Well, I'm sorry to say that's one thing you'll have to do without my assistance. If you want to start that tradition, that's fine, but I'm not going to help you squeeze a bunch of elderly, flabby arms.

[3potionproblem]

You can play ‘count the age spots’ then. Much less interactive.

[3houseswatson]

Just count them? When you could make constellations out of them like a connect-the-dots game?

That's a severe missed opportunity, Sherlock.

[3potionproblem]

How stupid of me. Of course.

[There is not an acceptable means to convey how much he’s enjoying this.]

Old cheek pinchers everywhere are indebted to your creative input.

[3houseswatson]

They should be. If this plan pans out, they'd be the proud bearers of some pretty brilliant tattoos.

[3potionproblem]

If we find a hound constellation can we murder the pensioner in good cause? Surely a walking grim is a blight on all of humanity.

[3houseswatson]

Yeah, no, probably not. That might be a bit over the line.

Unless she's personally responsible for, I dunno, tearing out some throats in the moors or something, in which case all bets are off.

[3potionproblem]

To be fair, if an old woman got up to that sort of thing in her spare time, I'd have more than enough respect for her to offer up a cheek.

[3houseswatson]

True. Though I'd still watch out. She might pinch it off.

[3potionproblem]

That would be extremely ambitious of her.

[3houseswatson]

Ambitious, yes, but your cheekbones also paint two great targets on your face.

Meanwhile, I don't have much in the way of cheekbones. I'm much safer in this scenario.

[3potionproblem]

Softer cheeks are much preferred I'm told.