Zel and Figaro sat on their beds, feet hanging off the edge and snacking on a veritable feast that the kitchen elves were only too eager to send them off with. He suspected that they were happy at any student appearance that didn't involve drama, a duel, or blood. Spring break was near, and Zel was torn between packing his things and going to Emeline's for the week, and staying here at Hogwarts.

"I can't believe we're almost graduated." He said between bites of his second cheese toastie of the evening. This school year had gone by fast since January hit. This was one of Zel's rougher years yet-- after his abduction in December, he had become more subdued and somber in some ways, but more outspoken and temperamental in others. His previously never-ending patience had shown its' limits, and Zel was thankful for all the friends in his life who offered support, whether it was through awkward hugs or uncomfortable jokes. The news article from February was a forbidden topic, and for the most part his peers respected that

"D'you think that maybe, we should look at flats and houses next week or...?" It could be better to have a home lined up by the time school was out. Zel didn't want to stay with Emeline for any longer than he had to. He scratched his beard lazily as his gaze met Figaro's, and excitement grew at the prospect of continuing to live with him (and Micah! And Ji-Hyun! If they agreed...) after graduation. Micah would probably have a vegetable garden. Even though Zel didn't like most vegetables, he took comfort in knowing that at the very least, they wouldn't starve.

"It'll be like Hufflepuff house outside of Hufflepuff." He grinned, "Are we going to call it the Hufflepuff House or... The Badger den?" Either way, they were going to be the coolest people ever.

"Look - " Figaro held up Quidditch magazine so Zelig could see. "Massive wipe-out."  It was a moving picture of Dominik Weidman plowing straight into a Harpies chaser, eschewing the bludger middle-man.

Figaro had been waiting to be finished at Hogwarts since his second year, but now that it was finally happening he was coming to realize that any planning for his future at this point would be utterly last minute. He had no plans or gold for a gap year, no internships or apprenticeships lined up, and hadn't decided on where he was going to live.

One thing was for sure - he would be working in the family Apothecary but not living at home in Marylebone.

"Yea, we should look, sounds great" he finally responded, taking the magazine back. Fig wasn't exhibiting the level of enthusiasm Zel might have been expecting. The prospect of trying to decide on a place that would please everyone and be affordable was daunting. Plus, he still had to convince his mum.

"Woah." He said with the appropriate enthusiasm, followed up by a sympathetic wince for Wiedman. Ouch. Zel loved to watch quidditch as much as the next wizard, but he'd never been any good at the sport. For somebody who was well over six feet tall, he did not like heights. He was an avid supporter of the Welsh National Quidditch team, though he had fun no matter what game he was watching.

Figaro did not seem enthused for somebody who was soon to be free from the grasp of Zelda Sellaphix. He took a bite of his sandwich, chewed thoughtfully, and swallowed.

"You okay, mate?" He asked, tilting his head slightly to the side.

"Excellent. Obviously." He gestured. "We're about to be masters of our destiny. Finally get to do what we want to do, no parents, no Head of House, no homework, no tests.  The world's ours. And you're going to be an Auror! What is that?!"

Zel was going into Auror training to be one of Wizarding Britain's finest warriors. He actually had a hard time imagining that, but he'd been good at not saying so to Zel. Not that he wasn't skilled, but he was just ... so ... nice? It was kind of hard to imagine Zel, like, intimidating criminals.

"I mean, it's brilliant. Of course. Obviously. I mean a flat with you, me, Micah, and Ji-Hyun? Dude, it's going to be wicked. So yea. Things are rather excellent."

"Em wrote to me about some places to look at-- so maybe we'll start there?" Moderately run down houses close to Knockturn, flats at Dorothea's... Nothing too particularly nice. But with the right charms and runes, they could be made secure and safe. Either way, it would be nice to not have to live with his siblings and CC. It was weird that she lived with the sister of Professors Donovan-- no matter how nice she was. Besides, he was an adult now! He didn't want to drain resources from Emeline that really should have been going to his younger siblings.

Zel wasn't sure who all had agreed to live with them. But the more the better, because even if they rented a bigger place, it'd be cheaper overall. The more roommates, the cheaper the rent and bills all around. Micah and Ji-Hyun were a maybe.... He'd heard rumors about Elysia joining in. Zel wasn't sure how awkard that would be... Elysia had been his girlfriend in fifth year. The breakup had been nice, but living with her might be weird. But Ji-Hyun probably needed to live with another girl to balance out the guys.

He didn't know what Figaro had planned for the year. Working? The fact that he hadn't said much was telling that he didn't really have a big plan. A lot of other people were in the same boat, too. It was terrifying, figuring out what you wanted to do for the rest of your life before you were even twenty. He seemed okay? Zel wasn't sure.

"And we can get drinks. Whenever we want." Not that they would drink all day, every day. But Zel liked having that option. As a prefect and a general goody-two-shoes, he was too anxious to ask Gracie for some contraband liquor. A slow realization dawned upon him. "Fig. What if we run into our former professors?! At a bar?!"

Figaro faked a dry heave.

"My soul would literally leave my body if I saw Storm in a pub."

He chose then to get up from the bed and dig into his trunk again. He pulled out a rumpled copy of last week's Prophet.  "Look at this." 

This will have been the ninth time Figaro had shown interest in some professional opportunity, and in each previous time he never got around to pursuing it. But his enthusiasm never seemed to diminish.  He'd been interested in being an Obliviator, a Potion maker, a Healer, a Quidditch player, and a broom charmer, among other things. And now, a Daily Prophet reporter.

"They're hiring for someone to help the reporters. I did the Howler! I'm perfect for this." 

Fig had run the Hogwarts school paper for awhile and in that time it was relatively successful, if success was measured by how pissed off the faculty was.

"Yeah, running into him would..." Be weird. Totally weird. Fig was absolutely right. "I think I'd look for the nearest escape." It was better to just not deal with the idea of a drunk Storm. Most of the other school staff were younger though. It would be less weird to run into them, but that didn't mean that Zel actively wanted it to happen. In fact, he actively did not want to see anyone. Not even Professors Donovan. Especially not Rick. Rick was guaranteed to make it weirder, and Shona would probably get that shit-eating grin like she just ate the cheshire cat. Or however that phrase went.

"I can see you working for the Prophet!" He could see Figaro fitting right in with Rita Skeeter and Stoney Bird. He could also see Fig working for other publications, like the Quibbler. Something told him that he'd excel at Witch Weekly, judging by the content in The Hogwarts Howler. Fig had the expereince though, more so than some of the others graduating.

He totally had a shot.

"You should try. I think you'd be perfect! What does the job description say?" Was it pouring coffee and attending to the writers' every whim? Was it an internship type thing?

"Um..."

He couldn't remember. Fig took the paper back and held it closer to his face to read the tiny advert.

"I need glasses. 'See your future at the Daily Prophet. Now hiring press apprentices, dogsbodies, hawkers, and gofers. Inquire with Barnabas Cuffe.' That's the editor. Gov better watch out." He snapped the paper.

Sure. It was obviously a peon's job, the hours would be shit, the pay worse, and advancement would be slow; others Fig knew would look down at that, but Fig saw adventure. Frantic bullpen, pumping clanking presses, all night scrums, hauling photography equipment on location, meeting new people, never stopping? If he actually went for it, the job would be right up his ally.

Dogs' bodies? Gophers? Hawkers?

Zel wasn't entirely sure that this wasn't an ad for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Not that dogs, gophers, and hawks were necessarily magical creatures.

"Uh." He wasn't sure how to interpret this. "Fig, that sounds perfect!" Yes, Zel. Pretend you understood everything.

"It'll get you even more experience. You might get to work with Rita Skeeter! Or Niobe Thursby! Or Stoney Bird!" All big names in the reporting industry. "You'll have to tell me what they're like. D'you want me to help you with your resume during the break?" They had next week off, it could be a good time to turn in resumes and make your face known to your potential future employers.

Ugh, adulting.

"Sure."

Figaro shrugged at Zel's kind offer to help get the application in order. He was so intensely disinterested in the work required to get work, but if he had Zel badgering him maybe it would actually get done this time! (Unlike his application to be an intern for the Obliviators.)

"Would be brilliant to just show up at the offices." They were right down in London. He'd passed them before. Maybe bypass a written application process on charm alone.

"Oh, speaking of - like, when d'you report or whatever? When does your think start? You get a gap year or anything before whatever it is?"