Owls to... lots and lots of people

[shh_slughorn]

Date: 8 March 2005
Characters: Horace and (deep breath) Blaise, all the Weasleys (yes, including Ron), Gilderoy, Hagrid, Harry, Hermione, Hilda, Irma, Lisa, Mafalda, Marietta, Minerva, Moody, Narcissa, Neville, Ollivander, Pomona, Rabastan, Remus, Rita, Rodolphus, Sanguini, Sibyll, Tonks, Viktor, Wilhelmina (and anyone else I've missed but Horace

Comments

[shh_rabastan]

Rabastan had just finished signing the latest stack of contracts from his solicitor when a pair of owls swooped through the charmed window, frightening poor little Mahgda out of her wits. She jumped from her platform near Bronwyn's perch and hissed at the interlopers who disturbed her nap. She padded away in search of a quieter spot of sunshine.

He set the reply to his letter about the school aside, as he fed the owl a treat. The second owl carried an invitation from Horace to a Housewarming. As it appeared he was among the first deliveries, he let the owl go about its business and called Bronwyn over to deliver his reply.

Dear Horace

[shh_slughorn]

Horace read the first reply and smiled. Rabastan and the excellent Miss Garner! It would be a pleasure to show them what he'd accomplished with their help.

[shh_ron]

Ron was cleaning up at the end of the day, done with his printing, when a strange owl appeared at the back door of the book shop. His eyes nearly popped out of his head when he read the invitation the owl brought. Horace Slughorn invited me to a party? Ron's pride was more than a little injured in sixth year when Slughorn invited his two best friends and his sister to join his favoured-students club, but not him. He'd heard rumours that the roly-poly old professor was now living in Stoats. Sixth year was a long time ago, though, and Ron couldn't help be attracted by the offer of free food and drinks. Besides, while he wasn't The Boy Who Saved the Wizarding World, he'd done his share to help win the war. That had to be why Slughorn invited him this time

[shh_slughorn]

"Excellent," thought Horace, reading the two messages that had arrived. With Hermione and Ronald attending the party, there was a good chance that Harry would also appear. The poor boy had looked stressed at the book shop, an evening out would probably do him the world of good.

[shh_hermione]

Professor Slughorn,

Thank you for the invitation. I'll be there with a guest.

Sincerely,

Hermione Granger

[shh_slughorn]

Horace wondered who the guest would be, and hoped that he or she would be a useful contact, or possibly even a customer.

[shh_rita]

Rita peered at the invite with a raised brow. Interesting. Horace Slughorn. She'd... well... she'd never liked him much, back in her school days. He'd given her the creeps. But she had to concede that he was fantastic at networking, and there would surely be quite a few interesting people at his party.

She lifted her quill.

Professor Slughorn,

Thankyou for the invitation. I'll certainly be attending. I may bring a guest, but I suspect the person I have in mind may already have an invite.

Regards,

Rita Skeeter

[shh_slughorn]

"Another reply?" thought Horace, smiling as he saw who had sent it. Now if the Prophet ran a story about the party and happened to mention his new business...

[shh_irma]

Dear Horace,

How good to hear from you.

I'll make certain to attend your party. If I may bring a guest, I'll certainly make the attempt to do so.

I'm quite looking forward to seeing you again.

Sincerely,

Irma Pince

She sent the owl in return, and finished her packing. A weekend away from Stoatshead Hill would do her good - and while visiting Andy, she would ask him if he wanted to accompany her to Horace's party next weekend.

[shh_slughorn]

"Marvellous," said Horace, wondering who Irma would bring. He gave Paracelsus another owl treat - he'd have to pick up some more from Narcissa's shop fairly soon - and went downstairs to check on the potions he was making to refresh his skills and make the laboratory feel more "lived-in"