Rosmerta Gudgeon's Journal

I'm a twenty-eight year-old who's just sent her loveable brats off to Hogwarts for another year of school.

Gladys, what House did you get into? I fully expect an answer to the owls I send you through the year. Don't think you can ignore me just because I'm not in school.

I expect to hear about how school's going from you, too, Davey.

Does this qualify me as an old maid? I'm not sure I want an answer from some of you, now that I think about it.

Between chasing those rascals away from the liquor and working my full rounds, I haven't had time to breathe, let alone update this thing. ~~I haven't seen--~~ It's good to see the summer bustle around the place, and the town's been supportive of the Shut Down Whores R Us campaign. We've all felt our share bit of it since that place went down, and now we've even got the Zonko's group raging.

Frank, are you still interested in being involved?

I'm also glad that I skipped out on catering the Black wedding. I wouldn't have wanted the blame for the dry cake.

I'm offering a free round of drinks to anyone who understands the male gender and cares to explain.

Dear Maddy McGonagall. I don't have anything to say that could make anything better. Her body horrified me when Florence took me to it last Saturday. That's how life goes, I suppose, but it shouldn't.

The fact that she was stabbed with a knife argues that Death Eaters were not involved. It makes Whores R Us look bad at the same time; it's the only new establishment around here, and Maddy's death is the first major crime in over a century. The crime rate rises around brothels, there's research to prove that, and the fact that it's unsafe is enraging even the owner of The Hog's Head. It's hurting business, and it will even moreso, now that Hogwarts kids can't visit anymore. People just don't want to stop by anymore, especially since the crime occurred in broad daylight. If a place is unsafe in the early afternoon, when will it ever be safe? People are reluctant to return to the place where someone murdered Minerva McGonagall's daughter. Other than the gentle stream of morbid onlookers, it's become a ghost town.

Rest in peace, Maddy.

Current Mood: distressed

Progress against Whores R Us is moving slowly. Somewhere in the Ministry, there seems to be someone who approves of that place and is halting the progress.

Business is quieter around this time of the year, which is both a good and a bad thing. I like getting to bed at a decent hour, but I miss the roaring crowds. ~~I'd like to be part of a roaring crowd again, but there's always Gladys to think of.~~

February 26, 1976
All right, I've spoken to the other entrepreneurs in Hogsmeade, and we all agree that Whores R Us needs to go.

Except for The Hog's Head, but that's where Whores R Us gets most of its business, anyhow.

We're starting a petition and we'll send it off to the Ministry. We're posting them all over Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, so we should be able to get enough signatures.

Oh, how I hate that Whores R Us. It's bad enough that we've got the Hogs' Head around, with the older Slytherins always going in and out of it, but now we've got that blasted brothel to corrupt our minds with. I saw about five students going in and out of it during the Hogsmeade weekend. I think I'll owl Dumbledore about it.

Something needs to be done about that place.

Let it be known that while the Three Broomsticks is closed on Christmas Day, we're open for business on Christmas Eve until three a.m. We get our roughest crowd of the season around this time, and I've listened to a number of tales throughout the evening and offered support where I've had to. I've been trying not to look too excited for Christmas, no need to annoy everyone, but I am excited that it's tomorrow and I'll be with Gladys. I wonder if the presents I got her will be good enough? I'm anxious about it, but I did the best I could, ~~especially considering my budget~~.

I'm closing up tonight, and then I'm off for a good night sleep. I remember waking my parents up at five a.m. to open Christmas presents-- I hope Gladys doesn't, it'll mean two hours of sleep.

Current Mood: chipper

I'm finally back at the Three Broomsticks. I've put 'Help Wanted' signs on the windows when you come in and given a few of my bartenders a good lecture, so between the two, I hope they'll take a hint. I don't know what I would have done without you, Dierdre-- thanks again. I've given you a raise, by the way.

I met a new woman in the bar the other day-- Janice was lovely. She was in my year at Hogwarts, apparently-- pleasant surprise. Hope she stops by again soon, it was nice talking with her.

I dragged Gladys to the medi-wizard as soon as I got home ~~talk about swiping your purse clean~~. I've gotten some ointment from her for her scalp-- that's the last time you sleep with the owls, Gladys. I'm just grateful that's all you contracted.

It would be nice to have a man in my life.

My mother's been improving, so I should be home within the next few days. She should be able to take up her post at the Leaky Cauldron again, which the rest of the staff will be grateful for-- they miss her a lot, it seems. The Leaky Cauldron staff is all one big family, it's the strangest thing. It's also really good to see, too. They've all been working together for so long, it's amazing that they haven't strangled each other's necks. I know there are a few necks I want to strangle around the Three Broomsticks. Wouldn't you say the same, Dierdre?

And there's a child's neck I'm a bit interested in wrapping my fingers around-- sleeping with the owls, Gladys? I'm going to have to take you to a Medi-wizard when I pick you up, who knows what you could have contracted.

Current Mood: calm

Mother's come down with something, so I have to go and visit her for anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks. Dierdre, I'm leaving you in charge of the Three Broomsticks while I'm gone, since you're one of the few sane ones around the place. I hope you aren't too horribly overworked while I'm gone. Owl me if something goes wrong.

Gladys, I'm expecting you to be on your best behavior. I don't want to come home to a bunch of Hogwarts bills, understand?

Current Mood: anxious

My congratulations to Dierdre for finding a new home; residency is nearly impossible to find these days. I just barely snagged the flat I'm in and I'm lucky I did, too, even if it meant that the previous resident had died in a rhinocerous stampede while on vacation in Africa. Poor man-- I hear he worked for the Ministry.

Speaking of which, mortgage is due today-- I'd better send it out before I forget.

Current Mood: apathetic

Sunday the 15th
((OOC: Another one of those happened-last-week entries.))

Dierdre told me all about her new prospect the other day. He sounds like a very nice man from her description and am wishing her all the best. Maybe I'll get to meet him one of these days? I hope so. Since I've started working here I've discovered that there is a severe lack of honest, dependable blokes in the wizarding world. ~~It would be nice if I could find one of them.~~

This one has been a bigger hassle than all of my bar shifts combined. Not a day goes by where she doesn't surprise me wiht one idea or another. She certainly adds color to the place. Do you have any parenting tips, Molly and Arthur?

Current Mood: pensive

Thank Merlin Dierdre's working, now-- I can expect to get at least six hours in a row, now. We've just put in a new row of security charms that keep going off, so sleep's still a nighttime fantasy for me, but in a couple of days that'll hopefully clear up. The boss has fallen ill, too-- I hope he's all right, but it'll be awhile before we see.

Anyone know a good remedy for lower back pains?

I haven't been able to update because I haven't had time to update. I'm sorry everyone, my life has just been crammed with double-shifts, all-nighters, whatever orange juice is left in the fridge and catching up on sleep from all of the above. We've had some of applicants to fill in for the girl who left, but, through a few complications and a lot of long stories, none of them have worked out except for Dierdre who, due to injury, can't start working yet. Don't feel guilty about it, Diedre, it's not your fault, but in the meantime, we're all pitching in to do our part. It doesn't help that it's the Christmas season, and we get all of those angsty old men, suicidal young women, stiff old high-society women who wouldn't be seen in here at any other time of the year and angry young drunken men all upset about their lost loves. I can do nothing but offer a drink and a listening ear, and some common sensical advice. I do what I can, but that's really only so much, especially since we're down on workers and up on business.

I love my job, but it's tiring.

Current Mood: exhausted

The Three Broomsticks
The Three Broomsticks has been rather deviod of children lately; they're all in France, I hear. How wonderful for them, to be out and about. It'd be great to be with them, I hear France is a joy in the summertime, but working women have to do what they do best-- work.

The Malfoy Soiree went as all right as serving starchy aristocrats can be. Chatting with a few of you and the other caterers made it worthwhile.

The bar life's been typical; man comes in, man drinks, man talks, man leaves. I have yet to come face to face with a completely silent drunk, except for the one on Christmas Eve last December. He was a depressing fellow, I hope he's all right.

I'd shop if I could afford it and I'd eat out if I could afford it, but since I can't, I'll enjoy being the life of the party and get to know the customers. Even the goblins can be sociable, in their own way.

Current Mood: chipper

Catering
A friend of mine called in sick, so it looks like I'll be catering the event tonight. We're supposed to wear the horrible uniforms, but since I don't work there regularly I don't own one, and have an excuse to dress up. I'll be wearing this dress with this bracelet, these earrings, and this necklace.

Oh, now I'm late... I hope to see you all there!

Current Mood: anxious

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