Brighton, England

Much like their muggle counterparts, British wix had certain ties to their European counterparts. The Conference of European Magical Journalists was one such venue, where journalists from Britain and across the continent could see and be seen, exchange some thoughts, eat, and celebrate each other.

The conference, an annual event, also gave a few awards, including a lifetime achievement award - for a distinguished journalist whose career was deemed to be over or winding down. In 2012, that would be Judith Eastman, whose turn to teaching seemed to signal the end of her time as a journalist.

"So in conclusion, I just want to take another moment to encourage the younger people in the room, the next generation of reporters, to go to those unfamiliar places, to talk about different people from different places. If we don't go there, nobody will, and the magical community will be poorer for it. Thank you."

Judy stepped away from the podium, taking her reading glasses in her hand. Walking down, she found Sandy Misslethorpe - he was easy to spot.

"You know they were gonna give the award to Cuffe posthumously, and then he came back[1], so they had to find a different Brit," she joked. "But whatever. This'll look nice in my office."

1.	Back From the Dead and Not Even a Letter

"I say!" Agreed Sandy. They stood in shadow beside the stage. He had presented the previous award. Hung back because he knew what was next. Wanted to congratulate Judith Eastman. She was familiar. They were old friends and associates. The media world in the wizarding world could be small. Some days it could feel big. Like here tonight. European Magical Journalists all sat at round tables. Applauding politely as awards paraded from the stage. It was an old boy's club some years. But the witches held their own.

"Congratulations." Said a passing wizard. They both recognized Bayard of La Gazette du Sorcier. The French paper was the equivalent of the Prophet was to Britain. Florine exchanged kisses on the cheeks with Judith. Uttering more congratulations over the closing speech of the compere. They would see each other again at GASP.

A camera popped. Purple smoke rising.

"What recognition!" Marveled Sandy. Smiling and embracing Judith. "Did you have any inkling it was you?"

Judy was all smiles as the greetings came to her. She was generally humble, but there was no denying she enjoyed this on some level.

She turned back to Sandy to answer his question.

"I was honestly pretty sure it won't be me," she replied. "You know, for all the usual reasons."

In some stuffier, more conservative circles, her sympathetic work covering muggles wasn't always considered important. She'd gotten quite used to shutting out those voices.

"That lovely feature you folks did on me back in September definitely didn't hurt."

"Always happy to print the words of a legend." Said Sandy. Beaming. "Koko will have to do a follow up interview. Lifetime award. Here." He held his arm out to her to slip hers round his elbow. Pivoted them to meet the camera. Careful to make sure they got Judith's best side. Though both sides were equally lovely. She had a preference. He could tell from the photos in the article. Flash! Pop! That would do nicely.

"Congratulations darling." He spoke warmly. Kissing her on both cheeks.

Judy could notice the way Sandy managed the photograph. He knew - as did she - the importance of aesthetics and of the right shot, but this was more personal than that, more considerate.

"Goodness, I could use a drink," she said, running a hand through her hair and inviting Sandy with her gaze to come along.

"How's things at St. Mungo's?"

It was, perhaps, small talk, but she expected there would be some good stories to tell.

"Frantic as ever." Assured Sandy. What hospital was not other than an empty one. An empty one did not mean a healthy population. Nobody ever stayed at the same table for long once the awards were over. Their eyes were busy spying a table that had not been drunk dry. "Excuse me." Smoothly Sandy slid between figures at a table. Stealing a bottle. From the next he swiped a glass and then another. "But Andy." He stopped himself. Remembering Judith did not know Miranda Storm by her Hogwarts nickname as he did. "I mean the Head Healer. Thinks she is onto a dead cert for an Order of Merlin in the new year." Miranda Storm's reputation was hard and cold. Her tenure as Head of the Hospital included the supply poisoning scandal. Her marriage to the equally frosty Deputy Head of Hogwarts provided regular titillation for lazy reporters in the room around them.

Judy smiled. She had heard Miranda Storm being referred to as Andy before, and she felt the nickname somehow fit.

"She might just get it. Now that Glass is cooked[1], I think she has a glide path as a pretty uncontroversial, respected pick."

The flip side of this was that her own name, which had come up in OM discussions sometimes, was probably not coming soon.

"I can't imagine how Ignan will react. Can't see him bragging."

1.	Since Kit hasn't worked out the details of exactly when Glass goes down, I'm leaving it vague if he's been brought down yet or it's just upcoming

"You know him better than me." Said Sandy. He worked with Miranda not Ignan. He knew her well. Or so he believed. They had known each other since they were eleven. "I know there will be press releases for months about it if she gets it." The hospital would use it for good publicity. To get more funding and donations. "Probably a book deal or two." Shrugged Sandy. He poured for Judith. "Did I tell you the time she ordered whine for an event?" It sprung to mind. "Charity event and everyone was insulted by their glass." Thankfully the wine did not taste as salty as its insults. He raised his glass to his ear. "This one is singing your praises." He toasted her.

"Oh, goodness, I served Whine for my 60th birthday. It had rather strong opinions about my fashion sense, as I recall," Judy replied.

"But at a charity event... goodness, that's bold."

She took the glass Sandy offered gratefully, with a smile, and drew a long, pleased sip.

"Yes I remember." Said Sandy brightly. "Told me I was an ineligible bachelor." And many more things. Whine was by design meant to moan and not be nice. Thankfully it tasted ok. It was a talking point. Sour in voice but not in note. This evening's wine was superior though. It had to be with the price tag of their tickets.

"On that subject. How is Max?" He smirked as he asked. The alcohol made him talkative. Judith had a partner. Another journalist who wrote about muggles. Both he and Judith had both once been married. Not to each other. But neither had stayed married. Both had children too. Judith two and Sandy one. His daughter Meredith was Head Girl at Hogwarts this year. He was always very proud of her.

Judy took a rather distinct breath when Sandy asked about Max. It wasn't that she felt any shame, but rather that the topic wasn't going to keep the good atmosphere going.

"We split up, about a month ago," she said, being plain and not mincing words about it. "It was a very mature, very sensible thing. My life was going a certain way, getting more invested in Hogwarts things, and that wasn't a road he wanted to go down, so we agreed we'd be happier parting ways."

She arced her back a little, stretching out a stiff spot.

"I think when you get to where I've gotten, where you're secure in your place and not really grappling for promotion, it's a lot easier to manage your love life in a grown-up manner. You make the right decisions for you, more easily."

"My apologies. The news was slow to reach me." Replied Sandy smoothly. Noting that the move to teaching had been catalyst. That Judith Eastman was not looking for the comfort and security of regular companionship at this point in her life. "No time for a significant other in your new role?" Asked Sandy. There was a twist in his tone that could imply he was also asking if there was only space for casual flings instead. It would not be unusual even for a witch such as Judith Eastman.

"Well, I didn't say that," Judy said with a little playful flip of her blonde hair. She thought she recognized something in Sandy's tone, and she was receptive.

"There's certainly room for a man in my life. He just has to be able to keep up."

She had met the two great loves she'd known - Max and her ex-husband - when she was busy with work. Each separation was different, but she was happy to have had them both in her life.

"In that case" said Sandy "I will sign you up now for our valentines event. There will be a mile long queue for your speed date." He was flattering her. But those wizard readers of Witch Weekly knew a good witch when their magazine wrote about one. Gen would be pleased to know he was already signing up names.