A Grand Reopening

[ascend_neville]

Who: Neville, Kevin and open to all
What: A Grand Re-opening
Where: The Apothecary, Diagon Alley
When: 9:00 am June 1, 2000
Status: Incomplete

The comments he heard were heartening.   He watched as people moved easily about the shelves, and seemed to explore the new layout with curiosity and nods of approval.  Neville caught Kevin's eye and gave him a

Comments

[kp_dennaha]

Between looking for a flat and getting the apothecary reorganized, Kevin had been more than busy over the past three weeks. Not to mention sneaking time with Hannah whenever possible. But today, today it should all pay off. His hard work, the long hours of checking each item, cataloging it, researching the properties of those he couldn't remember, and finally administering a decent lay out that took into account safety as well as consumer ease when shopping would all come to either prove worthy or a complete waste of time

[freedginny]

Ginny had finally gotten some time to herself. She brought some nice flowers with her for Neville to celebrate the reopening of his shop. She heard the tinkle of the small bells above the door. She was fully fixed now at least, she didn't look like ground hamburger like she had the last time she'd seen Neville. She understood that he was busy with getting his shop open, so she didn't hold it against him.

She slipped into the shop and was pleasently surprised at the even flow of the store. It made for a very relaxed atmosphere. She wondered if he had any sleep teas. That would be a good thing to get. She made her way to the front of the store, but meandered slightly to look around her. Finally she got up to the front and saw Kevin, giving him a small smile, "Hello, is Neville here?" she asked, knowing that this was the guy who worked with Neville, perhaps he wasn't here, on a lunch or something.

[ascendant_ron]

It was just the sort of thing you did, really.

Not that Ron needed any medicines; his injuries had been slight enough that he'd been discharged from the hospital very shortly after he'd been admitted. And he couldn't even pretend he had much interest in Herbology at all. Everything he knew about the subject, he'd learned from Neville just by listening to him ramble about this plant or that one and what they could do. No, he'd come here because that was the sort of thing you did for your friends. You supported them during the bad times and celebrated with them during the good.

He had to admit, though, some of these plants looked pretty interesting. Like the one with the bright purple leaves that darkened and somehow turned to a deep burnished gold at the center, the one that seemed to invite being touched...

SLAP.

"Bugger!" He yanked back his hand, staring at the plant.

"Well, don't get all handsy there, Sonny Jim," replied the plant.

Ron took a guarded step backwards and quickly found somewhere else to be. "Oi, Ginny!"

[kp_dennaha]

Kevin had found himself practically running around the store with all the questions, calls for assistance, and check outs that needed to be rung. He had just returned to the front after placing some more on a small fire in the back to transform it properly into it's liquid form as one patron had requested. "I'll be ready in about thirty minutes," he told the gentleman who agreed to return at that time for his pruchasse

[untidyblackhair]

Harry had about a half hour before he needed to report in for work, so he hurried down Diagon Alley and slipped inside the apothecary. It had been a while since he'd seen Neville (at least three weeks, he guessed) and a grand reopening was the perfect opportunity to say hello.

He brushed past one customer, who was hurrying out with a large bag of what Harry could only guess were potions and plants, and glanced around the shop.

"I'm here to see Neville," he announced to no one in particular. Because with any luck at all, Neville would materialize.

[ascend_neville]

Neville heard a familiar voice, and turned to see who was calling for him. His face froze for a split second, and he gave Ginny a quick glance before he moved forward to say hello to his friend.

"Harry! Excellent! I am so glad you made it. Look who's here," he said to Ginny and Ron, "It's a regular Gryffindor reunion."

Neville took Harry's hand, and shook it firmly, "Glad to see you, Harry. You look well, fit. How are things? Take a look around! I think Professor Sprout would be proud, to see all of her instruction taking such strong root in me, and Kevin, of course. There are some refreshments, just over there."

Neville pointed to the wall by the stairs, and then nudged Ron a bit, "We should all go out later for something stronger. I haven't been out with you lot in forever it seems."

Neville smiled, and then gave Ginny a shy glance, hoping she might take the hint and join them as well.

[freedginny]

She moved over to the wall with her brother and spotted Harry, giving him a bright smile. She was very proud of her boys. They were all doing so much better, even with death eaters still trying to kill them all. It didn't take much for her to move over and give Harry a quick peck on the cheek, glad he had showed up to support their friend. "I agree, we all need to go out, a DA reunion." she beamed at the boys, nudging Ron lightly, he was just being so strange lately.

She moved over to the refreshments and looked around the store. Perhaps it was too much to hope for a little bit of the old days before the world had turned into a clusterfuck of responsibilities and jobs.

[untidyblackhair]

"A reunion would be nice," Harry replied, tempted to give Ginny a quick squeeze on the arse, but settling instead for a squeeze of her hand.

A reunion would be nice, but getting some time alone with Ginny would be nicer. They seemed to have precious little of that lately.

"Maybe we could even pretend we're not so busy all the time. A peaceful, head-in-the-sand reunion. For about five minutes."

[ernie_dt_mac]

Ernie was a bloke who enjoyed those special moments when the fates seemed to align themselves all toward one goal - except, of course, when it seemed to involve him being in a frazzled state of mind due to a studying spree for an upcoming exam. However, it gave him the perfect excuse to head off on one of his breaks to visit the apothecary where, lo and behold, his friends happened to be working the re-opening.

He entered through the front door, took a quick look around to appreciate the changes that had been made, and headed straight for the counter.

"Mate! I'm glad to see you! I really need something to help me stay 'up' all night long. Well, I don't need it yet, but if it keeps getting harder than it already is, well, I'm gonna need some help, if you know what I mean. You can help a bloke out, right?"

[kp_dennaha]

Kevin turned at the sound of a voice that had become rather familiar over the past few weeks.

"You don't mean to tell me Michael's falling down on the job?" he joked a bit knowing how the two could easily keep each other up all night. Even more so now that Kevin had been working on getting his new flat together.

Of course, Kevin knew exactly what Ernie had meant and started going through the catalogue of potions in his mind that would do the trick and which ingrediants were necessary for the one that would keep him awake the longest without preventing sleep should he decide he's done for the evening.

[ernie_dt_mac]

"Ha ha ha," Ernie said with a roll of his eyes. "If I relied on Michael to keep me up at night, I'd never get any studying done."

He folded his arms on the counter and leaned forward, making himself comfortable as usual. "So, how's the new flat working out? You know if you need any help with anything, you can call on us, right?"

[kp_dennaha]

"Oh, I wouldn't say that," he grinned. "I'm sure you both get a fair bit of studying in," he reached for a nearby book that listed potions by category to see if he'd thought of a majority of the alertness potions. "Not that it would be of any academic revelance," he snickered as he offered the open text to his friend.

"The rest of my things should arrive from the States tomorrow," he was half scanning the list as he spoke. "Hannah's taking the day off to help me unpack it all."

[browneyed_susan]

Susan stepped into the Apothecary, anxiously checking her wristwatch. She'd been studying nonstop for the last few days, but even she knew when she needed a break- and it certainly didn't seem that there would be a better reason for one than the 'grand reopening' of the Apothecary. She'd always loved the place, enthralled by the vast variety of magical plants available. Her own garden was terribly simple compared to Neville's collection here, as it was mostly medicinal- there was elderberry for influenza, feverfew flowers for headaches, toxic aconite for its muscle-relaxing oil... each plant had its purpose. Likewise, it was clear that Neville's influence had been to positive effect. Everything looked neat and organized. Susan, being one who rather liked 'neat' and 'organized', was impressed

[ascend_neville]

"It's a Lovage plant. We put it out, so that people could see what it looks like alive, before we harvest them for their flowers, leaves and other parts

[browneyed_susan]

Susan heard the voice behind her and nodded at once, her eyes still stuck on the celery-like plant with its spiky green fruits. "Lovage. Of course! Lovage root can be used as an aquaretic..." She turned around and beamed at the young man who had so thoughtfully answered her thoughts, lighting up when she realized who it was. "You goof, Neville." She exclaimed cheekily. "It's me, Susan. Susan Bones. Honestly, it hasn't been that long, has it?" Remembering Neville's memory problems back when they were in school, Susan quickly added, "I don't mind, really." She smiled kindly at him. Poor little Neville and his Rememberall. He looked so different, and even spoke more confidently, she thought- but some things never changed. "You've done a fantastic job, you know." She said thoughtfully, looking again out around the shop. "Everything looks great."

[ascend_neville]

"Susan! Oh, I am sorry! I'm so tired, but look, it has been awhile. You look amazing. And then you didn't recognized the plant. I never would have thought you would forget that one."

He groaned inside, feeling a bit foolish. It was Susan. He knew Susan, or at least, had known in when they were at school. He didn't remember her eyes flashing and sparkling like that or her skin looking so smooth. Lord, he was more tired that he realized and it was still early, early in the day.

"Thanks. You can thank Kevin too. We did it together. I am really glad you made it."

Lunch time

[hannahs_charm]

Hannah had been very anxious about the grand reopening. Kevin and Neville had worked very hard to clean and re-organize the shop throughoutly.
She had thought about taking this day off to support Kevin, but Gwen had put a stop on such thoughts stating that Hannah would already take the day after off and she would need the younger witch the rest of the week. Hannah had hung her head but complied.

At Hannah's fidgetiness, Gwen had laughed at 11.45am and sent her off for her lunch hour warning Hannah that she didn't want to see her back before 1 o'clock. Hannah had smiled and then was off like lighting.

Carrying a bag of Chinese food, she entered the store and smiled when she saw Kevin engaged with a customer. Stepping back a bit, she observed him with a proud expression. Once he had rung up the purchases of his customer, Hannah approached Kevin at the counter. "Hey, I brought Chinese, so you and Neville don't starve yourselves to death at the first day."

Re: Lunch time

[kp_dennaha]

Kevin beamed from ear to ear when he saw Hannah. They'd only been open about three hours, but Kevin felt as if he'd already filled a week's worth of orders. "You, my love, are a sight," he stepped around the corner and gave her a light kiss on the cheek.

Reaching down, he took the bag of food. "Are you planning on eating with us?" he asked knowing that he and Neville would have to eat in shifts in the back room. Not only that, but Kevin didn't want to invite Hannah into the back room without Neville's approval because he was unsure how Otto would feel about his having company on the clock.

Re: Lunch time

[hannahs_charm]

"Well, thank you. And you look like you need a break." Hannah replied and offered her cheek for him to kiss.

Hannah eyed the bag. "Well, I was hoping you could get some break time to join me. My boss implicitly stated that she didn't want to see me back before one o'clock. But if you are busy, this stuff is also good with a Reheating Charm."

Re: Lunch time

[ascend_neville]

"Hannah!"

Neville broke away from a customer who seemed satisfied with the assistance and he moved towards Hannah and Kevin, a delicious smell enveloping them.

"You brought food! Wow! I wouldn't have even thought of something like that."

Neville paused, a grin spreading across his face, "Hannah, thanks. What do you think, Kevin? Put it in the back? Why don't you take a break with her, and then I'll come back in later?"

Neville watched the affection that seemed obvious between them, and grinned. He waited a moment before he noticed a customer who seemed clearly lost. He turned to Hannah apologetically, "I better go. Kevin, just come find me when you are done, okay?"