Absit Omen RPG

"He's still not well enough?" Asked Josie. Surprised. "He has been in St Mungo's for months. Do they think he will never get better?" She frowned. Worried. "Or do you think they are stalling for another reason?" It was a bit far fetched. But she had to make it seem like she was thinking about this for the first time. "Why would St Mungo's want to stop a criminal going to trial?" Asked Josie out loud. "The Head and Deputy Head of St Mungo's are Musgrave's old school friends right? I thought the Ministry can overrule the hospital?"

"So a copycat is a possibility?" Asked Josie. "I thought Musgrave was an outlier. He was public enemy number one?" Josie knew a lot about the case. She had tried to write to Lawrence. She had met him. When Sandy had him. But she was sworn to secrecy. That was very had for Josie! But she wanted the story so badly. "He still has not been brought to trial. Is that something you want to insure this year?"

"Yes! The dementors." Said Josie. "The worst seems to be past now right?" The newspapers still predicted dementor showers. But not to stay indoors eat chocolate and cast cheering charms. Josie was a bit sad about not being told to eat chocolate. She did it anyway. "I still eat plenty of chocolate. What about you?" She had not spotted any. "Is the dementor threat over?"

"I saw your car was still out front." Quickly said Josie. She pointed her quill to the front of the house. "Been on the ground all year I bet. Nothing new there though? Monty Pepper's been writing in the Prophet like. Going on about it." Josie shrugged. "He write to you? You still friends?" Josie was going to go back to interview Pepper again in the summer. So they could go on his flying motorbike this time. "He told me Zephyr was too conservative to consider it. You a conservative Minister too?"

"Hello Mister Glass!" Greeted Josie enthusiastically. She had to keep her enthusiasm in check. But she was interviewing the Minister of Magic. He had said yes. He did not say yes to every reporter. He did not invite them to his house. "Thank you for taking the trouble. Stoked to be interviewing you again. Through here like last time?"

Josie saw herself into the living room. Edwin's house looked a lot like before. But now she saw much more clutter. It had been spookily neat last time. She could hear water boiling. "Oh I got you a present. To say thanks like." Josie carried a red muggle knapsack on one shoulder. She dumped it down on the end of his sofa. Shoved her hand in. "Muggle coffee. Like blow your head off strong stuff. Great for those all night meetings!" Held out the crinkly packet. It had a cartoon of a brain on it in a big star shape. Like it was glowing. Josie grinned. She hoped he liked it.

"Only if they catch me." Yelled Josie running back up the sand to the tent. "Or you snitch Gampy!" Josie burst through the opening.

The tent was almost empty. Just Theta, Ambrose and Andromeda. The smell of BBQ meat was delicious. All the stronger for going out into the fresh salty air. "Is it ready?" Josie skipped forward. Like an excited Labrador. Assembled a cheese burger. Bit into it. Groaned with pleasure. Gorgeous. "Nice one Ambrose. Better tell the others."

Josie skipped to the tent door. Threw it open. Bellowed "GRUB'S UP!" at the sea. No wand needed. She was that loud. "See how easy it was to get back into those clothes guys." Said Josie to herself and munched on her burger.

The tent emptied. An idea came to Josie's mind. She grinned. It was a grin that her friends would recognize. The mischief grin. The should-have-been-in-Slytherin grin.

"Come on!" Said Josie. Jumping to her feet like on a trampoline. She locked eyes with Theta. "We are going to be responsible adults." That would convince her far too sensible friend. Josie flapped her arm. Beckoned the others.

On the beach were piles of clothes. Wands. Josie skipped and tiptoed around them like an imp. Giggling to herself. Subtly waving her rowan wand. Socks shrank. Trousers enlarged. Everyone in the sea was too busy splashing about to notice.

Too late. Josie wolf-whistled.
"Birthday girl and blondie sitting in a tree~~" sing-songed Josie. She stretched out on the cushions. Grinning. "What? Love is love and that?" Shrugged Josie. Knocked back her new drink.

"Skinny dipping?" Josie forgot teasing. She turned about. But the guy who had said it was swallowed by other conversations. Josie shrugged. "What?" Said Josie to Theta. She had not paid any notice. She tuned into Ariadne instead. Because Ariadne handed her a drink. That could get Josie's notice. "They have a guy who is a shark animagi? Is he fit? I need a picture." Where was the wix wide web when it needed inventing.

"Walking? Walking!" Josie snapped to. She came back from deep in theories about what had happened to her. They were to go to the spell damage ward. "Yes Peps. Yes."

Josie grinned at Healer Marrowbone. "Thank you for everything Healer Marrowbone." Josie shoved her hand out to shake. Her other hand dug into her pocket for one of her cards. She never left home without them. "I will be back to buy you coffee for an interview. Lunch if it is a good one." She shook hands fervently.

Josie turned to Auror Warrington. "Tell me you are personally assigned to my case." She giggled. "I might take a turn for the worse otherwise." Josie hoped he would come with to the other department. She laced arms with Theta to stay steady. "Lead on. My magic depends on it!"

END(?)

"All right then." Shrugged Josie. She would come back to the shop later. For now she would help Theta take down the banner. Follow the kids to the Broomsticks. Ask some more questions. Relive her Gryffindor days.

Jesper Limrick retreated into the shop. The out to lunch sign on the door. Josie snapped a photo.
"Limrick refused to comment further. Closing the shop due to the protest. The Hogwarts gang win this round." The quill wrote her words down.

"Hey Peps!" greeted Josie. "Hey yeah they won. The shop's closed. Though it is lunchtime." Josie shrugged. "Your sister is awesome. Like not just her art." Josie waggled the flyer. "I am thinking a proper interview. Can sell it to Witch Weekly or Daily Snitch. Even the Quibbler if it comes to it. Just got to find the right angle." Josie saw galleon signs before her eyes. "Think you can get her aside. Like a proper interview."

"What are we looking like Peps?" Asked Josie. Her friend sooo had a thing for that Shade guy. He should come back later.

"Cozy!" Echoed Josie. Dodging the cushion. "Got a thing for the older man." Teased Josie. Teaming up with Ariadne.

Theta had lucked out. He had kids but he did not steal her blood and obliviate her.

"You did not invite your boss did you?" Asked Josie loudly to Gris and Fauna.

"Gryffindor! Gryffindor!" Josie celebrated. She had been a lion too. That was good. Shade had that long blonde hair Draco Malfoy vibe. "So what you want to paint portraits of people and make them move like?"