Who: Penelope Clearwater, Open
When: Lunch, December 20, 1998
Where: The Leaky Cauldron, Diagon Alley
Rating: G
Summary: Nostalgia for fish & chips, and maybe running into someone from the past



Stepping over the threshold into The Leaky Cauldron, Penelope unravelled her hand-knit scarf and shook the moisture from it. The place smelled the same and sounded the same - a melange of fried food, yeasty ale and the noisy chatter of its patrons.

Finding a table, Penelope already knew what she wanted to order. A large plate of crispy fish and chips with a pint of hard cider is just what was called for on a winter’s day. She could have gone to any pub for that - muggle or wizard. However, coming home to Britain made her crave familiarity and ever since her parents gave her that journal she was nostalgic.

Perhaps she would run into a friendly face while in Diagon Alley, or so she thought. It was the same, but the faces in the crowds were unfamiliar and there hadn’t even been a red-headed Weasley about. Although she could have gone into Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, but the number of people she had been able to see through the windows made the place seem almost claustrophobic inside.

Penelope looked up, distracted from her thoughts, and her server was standing to take her order. As soon as she was alone again, she looked around the pub and her eyes met with someone else’s.