Order Only Private Message to Bill Weasley

[alt_charlie]

Happy birthday, big brother. I hope it's a good one.

Let me know the owl got to you safely, yeah? And it's your move, once you've got the chance.

Comments

[alt_bill]

It tapped on my window this morning...woke me up in fact, but I didn't mind at all when I opened the package.

It's stunning, Charlie. Thank you! Alec's work, right? You told me he was a marvel, and you were right. I've never seen such delicate scrimshaw work as on that Gryffindor crest.

Do you know which dragon the tooth belonged to?

It'll take a place of pride on my desk as a paperweight and will no doubt give my new office a special dignity.

(I wonder if I could hint to Massopust that it's actually a basilisk fang. Envenomed. Maybe that would get him to stay out of my office!)

Here's my move: D6.

[alt_charlie]

Glad it made it safely! Well, not like a dragon tooth won't survive getting banged up a bit. And yes, Alec's work -- nobody has the eye for detail he's got. And now you know why I could barely keep a straight face when you brought up Gryffindor heritage the other day!

As for whose tooth it is, it's often hard to tell -- they lose them in batches -- but it's from a Hebridean Black. You can tell by the slight curve at the tip. Feel free to intimate to Massopust that it's from a Vipertooth, though! Those stay venomous for a few dozen years after being shed.

I'm so glad you like it. I commissioned it from Alec last February; he finished it two months ago and keeping it for your birthday was killing me.

F4.

[alt_bill]

As far as I'm concerned, the wait was worth it. I really do love it, Charlie.

Had a good birthday dinner at the Burrow with Mum and Dad. Percy wasn't able to make it so we could talk freely.

O-O.

[alt_charlie]

I told Alec over dinner how much you liked his work, and he says to say "thank you". And "look closely at the left side of the lion's mane" -- apparently he worked your initials in there, which I'll confess I didn't spot before I packaged it up! (He's sneaky like that.)

Glad you got the chance for an unguarded talk with Mum and Dad. Did anything useful come from it about Percy? And has Ginny written you back yet?

Nf3, meanwhile.

[alt_bill]

Huh, I didn't notice the initials, either. I'll take another look at it when I get into work today.

I love that sort of art, that has surprises.

We talked mostly about Dad's ideas for developing the network of parents of the Moddey Dhoo kids for useful contacts, although Percy was mentioned, too. They've noticed that things with Penny seem a bit rocky.

Haven't heard back from Ginny.

Oh, for crying out loud, Charlie, what are you trying to do? Four pawns in the middle of the board, and those knights...what, are you trying to make all your moves symmetrical?

Those pawns gonna suddenly build a catapult or something?

I told you: NO SCREAMING AND NO LEAPING!

[alt_charlie]

I told you I was going to give you a distraction!

Your move, big brother. If I'm being so irresponsible, surely you should be able to beat me easily...

[alt_bill]

Fine! Nc6.

[alt_charlie]

Okay, okay, I'll behave.

Be2.