Drinking everything away....

Roxie stumbled into the Three Broomsticks, out of the bitter night wind. She walked herself to the bar, flopped down, and groaned. "Vodka please, Madame Rosmerta," she droned, resting her head on her folded arms and ignoring the pain that spiked from that.

"Roxie dear, are you quite alright?" Rosmerta asked, concerned.

After a couple repeated reassurances, Rosmerta left and Roxie was left in peace. She signed, looking around for something to distract her from her looming worries.

"Professor Arnyth!" Roxie exclaimed, straightening up and tugging her sleeves down. "It's... er... quite a surprise to see you here so late..." she added, struggling for calmness.

Madame Rosmerta chose that second to approach the counter and pass over a glass of Scotch. "Sorry, dear, it seems we're out of vodka, but I remember you like scotch just as much. It'll fix you up right too," she said, smiling warmly. Roxie fought to keep down the blush rising to her cheeks.

"It's... erm... not what it looks like, Professor."

Roxie took a grateful sip of scotch. "It's nothing, I've just been worked a little past my capability," she said, ruefully. She licked her teeth, wishing more than anything The Three Broomsticks sold glasses of blood; she was unbearably thirsty.

Roxie laughed, taking another sip. "Lockhart was hilarious. I think he absolutely loathed me. Aren't you going to get something, Professor? You look a little overwhelmed yourself," she said, eying the papers.

Giggling, Roxie replied, "Of course I remember Fred and George! Couldn't ask for better cheerer-uppers, or better people at that. Send me packages every week, which they should, considering all I've contributed." She chugged the rest of her scotch, mmm-ing as her body relaxed itself. Motioning to Rosmerta for more, she added, grinning, "No doubt they gave you Instant Swamp instead though."

Swiveling around the ice in her scotch, Roxie said bitterly, "The war. What else is ever wrong?"

"Oh yes, because everyone underage is just sitting at home enjoying their pumpkin juice at the moment," Roxie replied sarcastically. "Gawd I've had too much to drink," she murmured to herself.

"My robe?" Roxie said, hastily applying a silent blending spell to her mark.

Roxie signed, too numb to object. "Order of the Pheonix, then?"

"Well, before you start judging, I feel the same way," Roxie said, grimacing. Another drink, and then she murmured to herself, "God, what am I doing?"