ORDER ONLY: Private Message to George and Fred

[alt_pansy]

The samples have been distributed with glee. I feel like Father Christmas, only a witch instead of a wizard, and at the wrong time of year. The Slytherin firsties are particularly enamoured, as they had first pick, and have been like nifflers after a galleon for more. I believe bats are in vogue with eleven year old girls for some reason or another, as those barrettes were snapped up the fastest, followed by spiders, and lastly cats.

I particularly appreciated the pictures in the order form -- excellent movement and timing -- who'd you get as photographer, again? They really did an excellent job.

I don't suppose you can set up a tent in Hogsmeade? I'd imagine there's all sorts of forms and licenses to apply for, and Zonko won't be happy and might try to stop it, but it's worth a try, I think.

I've been working on a few things for the Christmas line in my spare NEWT hours in the potions laboratory, but it's awfully frustrating to not have access to Mr Snape's space any more, so I can do more of that work on our Order R&D line. I know, it's too risky, and the castle's changed so much for Headmaster Dolohov, I wouldn't be surprised if it got rid of it altogether. I haven't even tried to see if it's still there.

Anyways. I'll send along my notes about the peppermint singing mints in a week or so, and testing out the permanent snowballs will be far too fun.

How's your mum been?

Give Hitty a hug and a kiss for me, and tell her that her plans for the pantry look absolutely lovely, and she should get it done in whatever colour she wants.

Comments

Private Message to George

[alt_pansy]

Hogsmeade is a month away, which is utterly ridiculous.

I miss you terribly.

I got the package you sent. It was lovely. And silly. And made me laugh. Rather like you, I suppose.

I've no idea if I can successfully slip away or not this weekend, but I'd very much like to try. Even if it's only for an hour or two. Or three.

I miss you.

Re: Private Message to George

[alt_george]

Miss you, too.

Don't take the risk, really. (I know, I know, mad to hear me, of all people, preaching caution, but with Dolohov in charge, you really don't want to take the risk.) We'll make Hogsmeade special enough to make up for it, promise.

Love you, and a big canary creme to the Perks, too.

Re: Private Message to George

[alt_pansy]

It'll be weeks and weeks til then. It'd better be, George Weasley. I'm depending on it.

Re: Private Message to George

[alt_george]

Oooo, a challenge! I'm being put on notice, I see.

You know I work better under the pressure of heightened expectations.

[alt_gredforge]

Handing out packages with intriguing contents (or which go boom!) is always fun. You have discovered the key to our success.

We do plan to visit Zonko's in person again in about a week, to show him our Halloween merchandise. AND our spreadsheet. We love that rapidly rising graph, and we hope it'll impress him, too. He really would be mad to turn us down again. Maybe we can convince him to give us a niche in the store again. Either way, we'll continue to ramp up our owl order operation. We have two new owls, by the way! Castor and Pollux. We can't depend on the Owl Post Office having enough owls to spare when the orders come flying in thick and fast, the last two weeks of October.

Isn't that catalogue the best? We used Russ Cadwallader--he was a year ahead of us in Gryffindor. Very nice work; think we'll use him again.

Don't take any unnecessary risks; we're in a better position to explain any odd noises or load explosions. The really dangerous stuff, we squeeze into odd hours when we're at the Sanctuary working with Fu. (He loves our inventory, by the way, but is rather baffled at our wasting time at it when we could be, oh, experimenting with adapting battle armour. We tell him it's our inventory that pays for his battle armour. He shakes his head as if he doesn't quite believe us.)

[alt_pansy]

I'd look into getting your hands on the paperwork to set up a temporary booth too, before your meeting. If Zonko knows you're trying for it (which he will, I guarantee it), and that he can either compete against you or share in the profit, it might tip the scales. And if he agrees, that'd save you the trouble of actually having to bother with all those forms, too.

And yes, Russ is quite sharp. He's got a good eye. You might tell Powell about him, I'd bet a knut he could come up with some brochures that'd really show off her business, and we could make sure it features our fireworks and party favours.