Some time mid-morning the next day, a grayish ray of sunshine broke through the dissipating storm. It was an unusual display of cheerfulness in the English winter, one that the fitfully sleeping Justin could have just as well done without. The brightness prompted him to pry his eyes open into the blare. For a moment, he couldn't recall why he felt so lousy. Had he gotten pissed the night before? He didn't feel hung over exactly. But he'd fallen asleep slumped against the wall. As his eyes came into focus on the room around him, his memory followed suit.
Frankly, he wished he hadn't awoken at all. One slip of paper still was crumpled in his clutched hand, his hand with wand the only part of the image visible. Lizzy; Merlin how he missed his sister. She was only, what now, seven? Time passed by so quickly when one wasn't there. He'd missed her whole life practically; with no hope for being there the rest of it. Her expression from last holiday, when she'd opened up the chocolate frogs he'd bought for her, danced in his mind. She must have played with them for four hours before she got around to eating them. Mum'd made her keep the cards packed away so her playmates couldn't see them, but he remembered how she'd carry them in her pocket anyhow. Probably get him in loads of trouble if anyone found out, but it was terribly endearing anyhow.
Every joint in the Hufflepuff's body was frozen stiff. It was all he could do to force himself off the floor and stumble to the bed (the only suitable place to sit anymore). And what now? There was no food in the place, no books at all, only damaged letters. He couldn't even get a change of clothes on or take a shower (no towel). All in all it screamed to Justin that life was calling for a stiff drink.
He stumbled out the door, not bothering to lock it behind him this time, down the steps and out toward the Leaky Cauldron. Tom was in high spirits this morning; the sunshine did it for him so he said. Took some convincing of the old fellow to get anything better than Butterbeer this early, but after a few moments it seemed to occur to the barkeep that Justin was serious.
It was running into early afternoon when Pansy chanced in. She wore a lighter cloak of lavender, as the temperature had warmed remarkably since the weather system broke. She seemed to spot Justin instantly, to his chagrin. He'd seen her enter from the muggle street door in the mirror behind the bar. Keeping his head low, he tried to blend. But a haggard, unkempt, and sloppy Hufflepuff was not something that could be easily camouflaged.
"Bit early to be into the hard stuff isn't it Finch-Fletchley. If someone didn't know you were a Hufflepuff they might think you a lush." She had that cheeky goading tone in her voice again and today it grated on Justin's nerves a singing banshee. "Oooh, smells like Leprechaun whisky, I'd have gone for the Potted Rainbow Ale myself if you were in the mood for their flavor."
"Sod off Pansy." Justin growled as she plopped herself onto a stool beside him. Pansy gave him a sideways disbelieving look.
"Now now, don't get snotty with me today Finch-Flethcley," She was using the same tone still. "I simply won't have it, you wouldn't believe the things I've been through today."
She turned to Tom who was standing not far away, polishing glasses and warily watching the interaction unfold. "I'll have a Honeywine, but make it a cool one today please."
Justin slammed down what was left of his own drink and tapped it on the bar for Tom to pour him another. Setting down Pansy's wine, he replied only somewhat timidly. "Nooow there Mr. Finch-Fletchley, I think ya've 'ad 'bout enough t'day doon't yoou?" (AN this is my effecting his accents, I apologize if it's lousy.)
Pansy looked between the two, taking in the bit of tension quickly. The younger man only looked at Tom for a moment before tossing a few sickles onto the bar. Justin's return was delayed, and deeply slurred, his glower unfocused. "Turnn downn pay'g cusss'mer's of'n?"
Tom begrudgingly poured him another, albeit rather skimpy glass of whisky, and walked away to help other patrons. Slurping it down nosily, Justin was aware of Pansy's dark brown eyes on him as she sipped at her own drink. She didn't say anything else for a long while, which was a welcome relief, but he still wished she's just bugger off and leave him be. But that wasn't Pansy at all it seemed.
"Drowning our sorrows today are we? I can see your not going to get anywhere on your own and I believe you've warn out your welcome with Tom there." She set down her empty wine glass with a clink, watching with pursed lips as Justin lapped up the dregs of his own drink. "Let's get you on your way then."
She stood and pulled on his arm. Justin didn't budge, causing her to use a bit more force. Her strength was surprising. Perhaps because Justin wasn't in a right state, or perhaps she simply had a bit more going for her than many people realized, but Pansy eventually yanked Justin clumsily from his stool by sheer force and draped his cloak over his shoulder. Pushing his shoulders from behind, she managed to shove him out onto bustling Diagon Alley. They had gotten as far as the ice cream parlor, Pansy pushing Justin like a barrel full of fertilizer, before she stopped to look around.
"Where on earth do you live anyway Finch-Fletchly?" She said angrily after a few moments of flustered silence. He didn't respond, instead leaning heavily against a nearby building, unwilling, or unable, to walk away from this harpy, yet wanting desperately for her to just leave him be.
"Go on to your own flat Pansy. Can't you leave well enough alone?" He trailed off, eyes drooping shut momentarily. She was beside him in an instant, propping up the shoulder that had begun to slip dangerously downward.
"That's right, Abnorm Alley. Get up then." Her tone was of obvious annoyance, and her face reflected as much. Why then, wouldn't she take a hint? She made their way in the same fashion as before, on down toward his street. Finally, upon seeing his building, Justin began to trudge forward on his own. Pansy, however, continued to follow.
"Just sod off, will you!" He waved a hand behind himself angrily. But she didn't. When he reached the stop of the stairs, Justin swayed precariously, and Pansy pushed him quickly toward the door, finding it unexpectedly unlocked.
Once inside, Justin stumbled toward the bed and fell heavily face down into the mattress. Pansy remained at the door in stunned silence, her wide eyes observed the empty disaster. It was only after some time that Justin realized she was still there, kneeling on the floor amongst his scattered papers. He peeped a heavy eye. She was snooping, but he didn't have the strength to holler at her anymore. Instead he watched drowsily as she gathered them up quietly and placed them in a pile on the corner table, even flattening the crumpled one on top of the rest, then quietly left.
AN: The plethora of drinking in this fic was unintentional. It probably has something to do with the fact that I'm newly 21 and find myself with an evening drink nearly on a daily basis. At any rate, despite the fact that I never pictured my Justin as a heavy drinker, I feel that events did call for it in this case. Plus it's a handy meeting place, so blah.
Frankly, he wished he hadn't awoken at all. One slip of paper still was crumpled in his clutched hand, his hand with wand the only part of the image visible. Lizzy; Merlin how he missed his sister. She was only, what now, seven? Time passed by so quickly when one wasn't there. He'd missed her whole life practically; with no hope for being there the rest of it. Her expression from last holiday, when she'd opened up the chocolate frogs he'd bought for her, danced in his mind. She must have played with them for four hours before she got around to eating them. Mum'd made her keep the cards packed away so her playmates couldn't see them, but he remembered how she'd carry them in her pocket anyhow. Probably get him in loads of trouble if anyone found out, but it was terribly endearing anyhow.
Every joint in the Hufflepuff's body was frozen stiff. It was all he could do to force himself off the floor and stumble to the bed (the only suitable place to sit anymore). And what now? There was no food in the place, no books at all, only damaged letters. He couldn't even get a change of clothes on or take a shower (no towel). All in all it screamed to Justin that life was calling for a stiff drink.
He stumbled out the door, not bothering to lock it behind him this time, down the steps and out toward the Leaky Cauldron. Tom was in high spirits this morning; the sunshine did it for him so he said. Took some convincing of the old fellow to get anything better than Butterbeer this early, but after a few moments it seemed to occur to the barkeep that Justin was serious.
It was running into early afternoon when Pansy chanced in. She wore a lighter cloak of lavender, as the temperature had warmed remarkably since the weather system broke. She seemed to spot Justin instantly, to his chagrin. He'd seen her enter from the muggle street door in the mirror behind the bar. Keeping his head low, he tried to blend. But a haggard, unkempt, and sloppy Hufflepuff was not something that could be easily camouflaged.
"Bit early to be into the hard stuff isn't it Finch-Fletchley. If someone didn't know you were a Hufflepuff they might think you a lush." She had that cheeky goading tone in her voice again and today it grated on Justin's nerves a singing banshee. "Oooh, smells like Leprechaun whisky, I'd have gone for the Potted Rainbow Ale myself if you were in the mood for their flavor."
"Sod off Pansy." Justin growled as she plopped herself onto a stool beside him. Pansy gave him a sideways disbelieving look.
"Now now, don't get snotty with me today Finch-Flethcley," She was using the same tone still. "I simply won't have it, you wouldn't believe the things I've been through today."
She turned to Tom who was standing not far away, polishing glasses and warily watching the interaction unfold. "I'll have a Honeywine, but make it a cool one today please."
Justin slammed down what was left of his own drink and tapped it on the bar for Tom to pour him another. Setting down Pansy's wine, he replied only somewhat timidly. "Nooow there Mr. Finch-Fletchley, I think ya've 'ad 'bout enough t'day doon't yoou?" (AN this is my effecting his accents, I apologize if it's lousy.)
Pansy looked between the two, taking in the bit of tension quickly. The younger man only looked at Tom for a moment before tossing a few sickles onto the bar. Justin's return was delayed, and deeply slurred, his glower unfocused. "Turnn downn pay'g cusss'mer's of'n?"
Tom begrudgingly poured him another, albeit rather skimpy glass of whisky, and walked away to help other patrons. Slurping it down nosily, Justin was aware of Pansy's dark brown eyes on him as she sipped at her own drink. She didn't say anything else for a long while, which was a welcome relief, but he still wished she's just bugger off and leave him be. But that wasn't Pansy at all it seemed.
"Drowning our sorrows today are we? I can see your not going to get anywhere on your own and I believe you've warn out your welcome with Tom there." She set down her empty wine glass with a clink, watching with pursed lips as Justin lapped up the dregs of his own drink. "Let's get you on your way then."
She stood and pulled on his arm. Justin didn't budge, causing her to use a bit more force. Her strength was surprising. Perhaps because Justin wasn't in a right state, or perhaps she simply had a bit more going for her than many people realized, but Pansy eventually yanked Justin clumsily from his stool by sheer force and draped his cloak over his shoulder. Pushing his shoulders from behind, she managed to shove him out onto bustling Diagon Alley. They had gotten as far as the ice cream parlor, Pansy pushing Justin like a barrel full of fertilizer, before she stopped to look around.
"Where on earth do you live anyway Finch-Fletchly?" She said angrily after a few moments of flustered silence. He didn't respond, instead leaning heavily against a nearby building, unwilling, or unable, to walk away from this harpy, yet wanting desperately for her to just leave him be.
"Go on to your own flat Pansy. Can't you leave well enough alone?" He trailed off, eyes drooping shut momentarily. She was beside him in an instant, propping up the shoulder that had begun to slip dangerously downward.
"That's right, Abnorm Alley. Get up then." Her tone was of obvious annoyance, and her face reflected as much. Why then, wouldn't she take a hint? She made their way in the same fashion as before, on down toward his street. Finally, upon seeing his building, Justin began to trudge forward on his own. Pansy, however, continued to follow.
"Just sod off, will you!" He waved a hand behind himself angrily. But she didn't. When he reached the stop of the stairs, Justin swayed precariously, and Pansy pushed him quickly toward the door, finding it unexpectedly unlocked.
Once inside, Justin stumbled toward the bed and fell heavily face down into the mattress. Pansy remained at the door in stunned silence, her wide eyes observed the empty disaster. It was only after some time that Justin realized she was still there, kneeling on the floor amongst his scattered papers. He peeped a heavy eye. She was snooping, but he didn't have the strength to holler at her anymore. Instead he watched drowsily as she gathered them up quietly and placed them in a pile on the corner table, even flattening the crumpled one on top of the rest, then quietly left.
AN: The plethora of drinking in this fic was unintentional. It probably has something to do with the fact that I'm newly 21 and find myself with an evening drink nearly on a daily basis. At any rate, despite the fact that I never pictured my Justin as a heavy drinker, I feel that events did call for it in this case. Plus it's a handy meeting place, so blah.