Justin's Journal

10:38a - 23rd Aug 03: So, last weekend, I went to the baby shower for Hermione, of course with Ginny and Nev. It was, as all these gatherings are, a great time. I think I'm really beginning to feel comfortable in my own skin around everyone. Not so much feeling anymore like I was on the outside looking in, like I often felt in the beginning. I think a lot of it was that I didn't share the years of common history with Harry and Hermione the way that Ginny and Neville do. But, we're making our own history now.

I was so glad that they liked all the baby gifts. If their parents are any indication whatsoever, little James is going to be the most adorable baby in all of recorded history. And she said we'd be able to babysit!

We talked a little bit about that ridiculous Den of Iniquity article, and how in the end it doesn't matter. The people who we actually care about know the truth. Also, our house has a name now, because of it. The Den. (I wouldn't have minded "The Burrow: Hogsmeade Branch," personally...) Perhaps I'll send Nanny Ogg some flowers by way of thanks.

I spent a bit of time talking with Mr Weasley after we opened presents. I think he's genuinely thrilled to have a real live muggleborn as part of the 'family', so to speak. He started bombarding me with questions about the muggle world until Mrs Weasley stopped him. I can't say I minded much. I really love Ginny's parents.

As far as the research business is going, we've sent out some letters, but so far, we've not received any responses. I'm sure it's just a matter of time, but well, we sent out a lot of letters. I'd have expected at least one response. Of course, I only sent them out on Thursday, so maybe I'm just being impatient?

Granted, there's no financial reason for us to need to begin working any time soon (or perhaps ever, for that matter.) But the fact is, I'm getting a bit bored. The life of the independently wealthy was really never for me. I need to be working, learning, doing something to occupy both my time and my mind. Sitting quietly reading in my library is always nice, and the hours spent in the garden are nice, too, of course. There's nothing like getting right down into the earth and soil and making the green things grow. But...I don't know. I long to be part of some...greater work?

Anyhow, I'm hearing a very, very familiar song from the kitchen, so I'm guessing Ginny's about finished making breakfast.

09:18p - 18th Aug 03: I have to say...
It went a lot better than I thought it would. I was a bit terrified apprehensive at first, but hey, all of those social politeness lessons paid off in a big way. As in, 'I didn't attempt to bite her head off for the way she was addressing us.' Which, really is a good thing, because that woman's skin is so thick I'd just break my teeth.

And, yeah, she asked some tough questions of Ginny and I. Mostly along the lines of 'what makes you good enough for Neville?' And, I think we answered them well enough. And even though part of me is saying 'Well, what right did she have to ask? The nerve!'. The majority of me is VERY GLAD she asked. Because she cares enough about Neville to make sure that we're right for him.

In the end, she agreed, because I wouldn't want things between her and Neville to be strained because of us. Apparently, the rest of the family is not so thrilled.

Which makes me wonder when I should tell my own family...

Well, it can wait. Anyhow, she told us she visited the Witch Weekly offices, but wasn't able to find out who'd tipped them off. But somebody wanted our relationship exposed, but I can't imagine who. Obviously, someone who wanted to discredit either the Weasleys or the Longbottoms (or both)...but I can't think of anyone, for the life of me.

Anyhow, I'm glad that it's done with.

Oh, right! In other news, Neville and I have been talking about the research outsourcing, and we've agreed we should start getting in touch with some of the apothecaries around Britain, and get a feel for exactly who really needs such a service in the first place.

05:57p - 15th Aug 03: Well.
This ought to be...interesting.

We'll see, I guess.

09:46p - 11th Aug 03: Owl Post to Hermione Potter
Hermione,

Thanks for taking the time to look in on us. The dartboard sounds like a great idea! I'd sure like to take my turn. Wish I knew who the photographer was, though. I only know one of the photographers that work there, and I have some pictures of him if we can't dig up any pictures of this Glossop woman.

Anyhow, I hope you're feeling all right, with the little one so close to arriving. I'm certain you can't wait. And honestly, neither can I. We will get to babysit eventually, yes? Please?

Give my love to Harry and little James as well.

Cheers from the Den,
Justin

09:18p - 11th Aug 03: Wow.
I really do not write in this thing often enough. It's time to rectify that. Because it just seems like I don't write and then there's more and more I want to write about and it just all backs up in my head. So, yeah.

First things first, I suppose. That ridiculous Witch Weekly article. More to the point, the fucking reporter right outside the window! I mean, hullo. Privacy, anyone? Bloody hell.

I guess it's not something that's going to affect me, so much, but I made sure that both Ginny and Neville know I'm here for anything they need. Hermione was nice enough to send an owl to look in on us as well, and I'll write her back, and let her know everything's okay, as well as thank her for her concern. Like she didn't have enough to worry about! She's probably about to burst. I really can't wait for the baby. (All right, so very likely not as much as her and Harry.) What can I say? I want to be asked to babysit. I mean, how cute!

But, you know...I like 'The Den.' But really, it would sound like something that Professors Lupin and Snape would share. (Or...well, I suppose they're not technically professors anymore but it would be so odd to just call them 'Remus and Severus.' Perhaps in time.)

Going back to the article. Neville owled his Gran last night, after we'd pretty much figured there would be something about it in the papers. I suppose I need to owl my parents, sometime soon, and come clean to them about the whole thing. Not that they're likely to hear about it from the article, but, well, for my own sake, I want to tell them, because Ginny and Neville make me happy in a way I never imagined I could be.

You know...part of me can't help but wonder if Colin was the photographer, out there last night...

I suppose there are other things I ought to write about. We had a bit of a birthday party, last week, for myself (20, my gosh.) as well as Neville and Harry. (now that I think of it, we're all twenty, now.) It was, of course, a blast. I love spending time with everyone. Compared to how I spent my birthday last year, and for that matter, previous years, it was my best birthday ever. It's just more evidence that my life is moving forward, and upward.

Oh, right. Of course, how could I forget! A few weeks ago, a group of us went to a screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. It was certainly an exercise in the interesting. (And, bloody hot. Truly, everyone was to die for, but probably no more so than my loves.)

You really haven't lived until you've seen Neville Longbottom in tiny gold shorts. Because, damn. Ginny dressed in nothing but lingerie was also rather appetizing, and never mind that I've seen the both of them in considerably less. (Read: nothing at all.) But something about the promise of what's there...well, anyhow. As for myself, I dressed as a biker (leather, what can I say? Addicted.) who met his unfortunate fate at the hands of an ice-pick wielding transvestite. And call me lucky that Professor Lupin didn't choose to act out the scene in its entirety. Because ouch.

Harry and Hermione went as Brad and Janet, which was interesting to say the least, as Hermione was Brad and Harry was Janet. I didn't know you could have that much fun with socks.

Of course, seeing Professor Snape dressed as a woman was...very close to an out of body experience. That, and he seemed positively fixated on the fact that Professor Lupin was wearing a corset. It was, for lack of a better word, cute.

It was an amazing evening, though. Even if I was a bit lost, I had an incredible time.

Even so, it was nothing compared the fun we had when we got home. I'm so glad we were able to talk Neville into coming with us. Because, as it turned out, he had some very, very good ideas.

10:00a - 11th Jul 03: Settling In
So, Ginny and Nev are finally all moved in. Our house now. Not just mine, but ours. Sometimes it seems odd: I never felt this level of content and just...'rightness' when Colin and I first moved in. Scratch that. It's not all that odd. It's normal. Colin was a mistake in oh-so-many ways, looking back. But then, those are the sort of things I suppose you are supposed to learn from, and I really have.

The flat now, is for the most part empty (which happened in a bit of a mad rush), save for the furniture. There's a couple in town for the Wolfsbane distribution that's using it at the moment.

And here at the house, I think we're finally getting settled into a bit of a routine. Now that school is finished for the summer, it's been long lazy mornings and leisurely breakfasts out in the garden. Days where Nev and I do nothing but work on some of our experiments in the garden, and Ginny loves to help - especially weeding with her wand.

Recently, on the days where one or the other of them have gone to put in time at the Distribution Center, I have retired to the library during the hottest part of the day, and started working on the pile of books that I own, yet have not even cracked. It's tremendously cozy, and every once in a while, Dirk or Duck (and I think I've finally learnt to distinguish them) will stop it's usual blurriness to come curl up with me. It makes me a bit sad, still, because I think of Mogget when they do. But they never stay still for long, and that's something so tremendously not-Mogget that I smile and usually forget.

I was about to wrap this up, then realised I'd be leaving it woefully unfinished. Last Friday, there was a party to celebrate Harry's being awarded the Order of Merlin. It was a fun time, as these things usually are. (With much cake, to Ginny's delight.)

However, I think many of us were treated to an extra surprise, as we found out that Professor Snape had received the honour as well. For what, I'm not certain, and it wasn't specified, but I'd have to assume it was for much the same thing that Harry got his for. Admittedly, I can't imagine what Cranky Old Professor Snape (and yes, I say this mostly in jest. I've gotten to know him a bit, and he's not all that bad, really.) might have done to receive the award. But I'm certain he deserved it.

Speaking of Professor Snape...I don't know how I'd forgotten this. Over the weekend, Ginny participated in a ritual with a few others called the Blessing of St Elisabeth. Apparently, the intent of this is to allow Professor Snape to bear Professor Lupin's children. (And, on a side note, I should probably drop the title of Professor in reference to them. I've found out they're both going to be no longer teaching. Harry's taking the Defence Against the Dark Arts job, however, which is excellent. I know he'll make a brilliant teacher.)

Anyhow, this was...tremendous amazing and yet...oddly amusing news. I think poor Nev was stunned into silence, but I thought it was great! I mean...I just had this mental picture...of Snape seven or eight months along and waddling around a bit and glowing like she does...

And I found it seriously cute.

Of course, with...Voldemort gone and all these people starting to have or talk about having children, it gets me thinking. I would most definitely want some with Ginny and Neville some day. And though we certainly have a more traditional method at our disposal, (and no doubt, given Ginny's genetics, we could have several if we wished.) I wonder if there is some way, magical or muggle, which we can be sure that the child belongs to all three of us. It something to think about, at any rate.

For now I think I'll just be happy in love.

11:19p - 21st Jun 03: Solstice
Gosh, I'm so glad the journals are back up. Oddly, I've felt sort of detached without it, the past week or so. I'll have to drop the Headmaster a note in the group journal in a moment.

Anyhow, this past week has been...strangely quiet, after the events of the previous week. The mood everywhere is decidedly lighter. People smile for no reason at all, strangers greet one another on the street...it's definitely unusual.

Anyhow, O.W.L.'s and N.E.W.T.'s are over now, and the students have gone home for the holidays. For my part, I think I'm relieved as they are. I've had just about enough of sending students up to the hospital wing for Calming Draughts.

With the end of term comes the end of my days at Hogwarts, I believe. I really enjoy working with Professor Sprout and the kids (and of course, Neville.), but I feel my true strength is in research.

And it's difficult to focus when you've got panicked fifth years, knocking at your office door. Covered head to toe in Stinksap because they poked their Mimbulus mimbletonia in the wrong place.

Anyhow.

Last week, Neville, Ginny and myself spent our first night in the house since the attack on Hogsmeade.

I don't know if they felt it, but the house felt...colder. Empty. Violated, I suppose. It was uncomfortable, but I keep telling myself that really, it's just me, dwelling on the past. And I ought not. That Evil Bastard is dead, the world is saved, and it's a new beginning.

And what better day for a new beginning, than the first day of summer?