Diggin for Details

I been lookin’ for an excuse to go down, see Pip, chat ‘er up. I noticed she came inta work lookin’ a bit…more…pippy few weeks ago. Been meanin’ to ask her about it, but never have quite got the chance. Fred and I been inventin’ up a storm for the coming summer.

Well, now I got an excuse. Our newest show of genius is tested and ready for production, so I take it down to Pip’s mad laboratory.

I push the door open, and there’s our Pip, hair pulled back, stirring a madly bubbling cauldron an’ hummin’ to herself.

“Oh hey boss… whichever you are.” She says, looking up and smiling, “What’s shaking?”

“Our newest bit o’ genius,” I tell her, ploppin’ down the recipe.

She makes a face, “Seriously? I just got the hang of the last one. Can’t you guys be a little less creative and cut me some slack?”

“Nah. Our creativity puts galleons in your pockets,” I tell her. “Besides, where would the world be without more, and more, and MORE of our fabulous gags?!”

“Um, well I would be a lot less busy.” Pip says, adding a dash of doxie droppings to the cauldron and stirring the other direction, “Not that I’m complaining, mind.”

“Yeah you are,” I snigger. “Nah, I know what you’d rather be doing.”

Her cheeks flush pink, but she doesn’t look up, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, boss. Unless you mean maybe getting off work early sometimes.”

“Or gettin’ days off work…indulgin in some extra curricular activities. Say,” I add, “you been lookin’ mighty cheery lately.”

The blushin gets a bit more intense, but she only says, “Yeah? Well… reckon it’s the nice weather. I always liked the sunshine.”

I grab me up a chair and pull it up. “Reckon?” I ask, with a smirk. “Startin’ ta sound like Ron.”

She smiles a bit, “Yeah, maybe. Nothing wrong with that, though.” She sorta looks away, funny lil smile on her face and sighs.

“So…how ya doin, eh?” I ask, leaning back in the chair.

“I’m wonderful.” She says, still lookin’ down into the cauldron and smilin’, “How’s things for you, boss?”

“Doin’ good, doin’ good,” I say. “And uh…how’s things with Ronnard?”

“Doing good.” She parrots with a mischievous grin, “I can’t complain.”

Hmm, she’s not gonna make this easy, eh? “You, uh…satisfied?”

She glances up at me, her eyes wide and innocent, “With what, boss? With work? Yeah, of course, although the salary leaves something to be desired.”

“Well, ya seemed quite itchy for a while there,” I say. “Wanted ta know if ya got some relief.”

“You make it sound like I had the chicken pox.” She snorts, turning back to the cauldron with a shake of her head.

“Oh, not quite chicken pox, but ya did seem kinda agitated.”

“Did I?” Pip says airily, going back to stirring the cauldron, “I didn’t really notice.”

“Ooooooh, I think you noticed,” I say. “And if I remember right, it was somethin’ you were hopin’ a certain little brother o’ ours could help ya out with.”

“Ron helps me with lots of things.” She says, but I can see the corners of her mouth sorta twitchin’ with a smile, “he was teaching me how to fly a couple weekends ago.”

“Hmm, I bet he was,” I say. “Did he let ya get on his broom?”

Her head snaps up, and her cheeks turn red, “What?! Oh… uh, well yeah, I don’t have one of my own.” She stammers.

I can’t help smirkin’ at that. Well, well, well, looks like Ickle Ronnikins is a man now! “I hope he remembered to put on them, er, hover charms!”

Her face is beet red now, and she quickly looks back down at the cauldron, “Uh, yeah. It was fun. Flying, I mean.”

“Mm-hmm, yeah? Do go on,” I urge.

"Not much to tell," she shrugs, adding the occamy saliva and stirring again, "We went flying. It was fun. End of story." she looks up at me, "Got it?"

"Aww, Pip," I pout. "I don't get nothin' more? Come on, just wanted to check up on the stat of the ship ol' Freddie and me launched. Wanna see how she's sailin. That's all. Marauder's Pledge, won't go nowheres past me and Fred."

She rolls her eyes, "Yeah, its you and Fred I have to worry about, boss. C'mon, like you could resist teasing the little bro? I think not. So I will be keeping mum."

"Guess we'll just have to keep teasin' him for bein' a blushin' untouched," I shrug. "Nah, come on. Much as we love teasin' the kid, we wouldn't tease him 'bout his first time! 'Less it was with somebody we didn't like," I add. "But you, Pip, ya have our blessin, that's for sure."

She smiles, skipping over and givin me a big hug, "Aww, thanks boss. That's really sweet." she pauses and then grins at me, "But no details."

I snap my fingers. "Aww nuts. Well, then I'll just have to let our imaginations run wild," I smirk. "And you know what sorta twisted imaginations we have."

She grins and rolls her eyes, "Yeah, I know all about it. You guys think what you want, huh? I know you, and I know it'll drive you crazy you don't know what really happened."

"Very well," I say with an overexagerated sigh. "But just for the record, you lot did, eh?"

"I neither confirm, nor deny the accusation." Pip says, all prim.

"I'll take that as a yes," I say, just as primly. Then I laugh and chuff 'er on the shoulder. "Pip! Way to go! And you too, Ronnard."

"I didn't say anything!" she protests, "Honestly, boss, putting words in my mouth?"

"Hmph! Alls I'm tryin' to do is show my approval and support, and here I am, gettin' accused."

She smiles, hugging me again, "I'm not accusing- just... you know, its kinda private stuff."

"Well yeah, we know that," I say, huggin' her back. "But sorta like matchin' up a customer with a prank. Sure, it's their private business what they do with it, but ya just gotta know how satisfied with somethin' you helped along with. Besides that, he's our little brother. Much as we tease the kneazles outta him, we wanna know he's well and satisfied, and shaggin' the right girl. Didn't want the bloke to die an ickle Untouched."

She smiles, and tilts her head back so she look up into my face, "You're sweet, boss. Still no details, but I promise to do everything in my power to keep Ron happy. Okay?"

"Well...I s'pose that's an acceptable alternative to gettin' details." I ruffle her hair.

"Glad you approve." she smiles, swatting my hand away and attempting to fix her already messy hair, "So, how bout your love life, boss?"

"You mean lover life," I correct. "Splendid, actually! Haven't heard from Iva since her trip to Russia, but Aley treated us both to an absolutely disgustingly fantastic dinner the other week!"

"That's sweet, boss." she smiles, turning back to the potion, "I'm glad you're happy. I mean that y'know."

I grin and tap the recipe. "Well, now I've delivered what I needed, I'll be headin' back out there to my adoring public."

"Ok." Pip grins, then her smiles slips a bit and she says, "Actually... um, I guess I should talk to Fred too, but since you're here... can I talk to you about the schedule?"

"Sure thing," I answer. "What's on your mind for it?"

"Well, um..." Pip looks a mite unsure of herself, "I was wondering if maybe, possibly, I could... reduce my hours some? And its not because of Ron." she says in a rush, "It's just... well, I'm in a band now, and..." she sighs, "Sorry, that sounds lame. I just feel like some extra time off would be helpful. If you don't want to, it's ok, I just.."

"A band, eh? Hmm, a regular Pip Rocker, are ya? Well, that as it is, and with the summer hols comin, Fred and me'll have to hire a second potions person. Can't afford to cut hours, we need to expand, so think we're gonna look into a part time and switch you to part time, too. That suit ya?"

She sighs a bit, and smiles, "Thanks, boss, you have no idea how much that eases my mind. Thanks soooo much!! Hey, you and Fred should come to our next show!" she beams, "We're pretty rockin' if I do say so myself!"

"When is it?" I ask. "Have to see what's on the sched."

"Dunno." she shrugs, "I don't think we've booked it yet. But we usually play at this pub on Fridays, if you're ever without your Russina hottie and are bored."

"Oh, ok." she says, kinda drooping a bit, but still keeping her Pip smile, "Maybe we can get one during the week. Iva could come to. I mean, if she likes that sort of thing."

"Or, ya never know, could need the use of a kick-arse band for some bash at the Maison," I say with a wink. "Can you lot play Monster Mash? She Blinded Me With Science? Purple People Eater?"

She grins at that, "I'm sure we could learn."