July 28, 1895 — Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour, London

Judy whistled as she walked into the ice-creamery owned by the Fortescue family. Florean Fortescue’s Ice cream parlour was one of her favourite haunts - the perfect way to pick up her blood sugar after a long day staring at work and trying to just make it work and make sense. It hadn't by the end of the day and, after being ejected from the office as she was going around in circles, she'd stopped into the bakery at the end of Diagon Alley to purchase something to pass for dinner before heading off to one of her favourite stores.

The Fortescue's made the best ice cream in London, or so she had long decided, and it didn't hurt matters that it amused her so very much to have Ritchie Fortescue behind the counter and forced to serve her. She was now almost thirty and she liked to think of herself as mature, wise and beyond her childish and wild teenage years but nothing gave her quite the amount of glee than being served by a former rival. It also helped that she had a gigantic sweet tooth and she had an entirely separate stomach for dessert - and, with nobody judging her eating habits - she was quite happy to indulge herself.

And it was Monday which meant it was Mystery Monday. How could she ever say no to Mystery Monday?

"And how have you been this fine day?" She remarked to her former rival as she approached the counter, jump to her step and shit eating grin smile clearly on her face.

  

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Ritchie heard the bell above the door jingle, although he didn’t look up right away. It was partly because he was mid-scoop and partly because he instantly knew whose voice that was, and could practically feel the smirk radiating off her as she stepped closer to the counter. Judy Hatchitt was here to annoy him, just like she’d done a thousand times since they’d crossed paths in second year.

He made a point of finishing the perfect, round curl of ice cream into the waiting dish for the witch ahead of her, sliding it across the counter with an easy. “Don’t finish it all in one bite,” Ritchie chuckled as the woman took her ice cream over to one of the tables to enjoy.

He finally glanced up at Judy. The corner of his mouth twitched. “Well, I was having a fine day but then you walked in.” Ritchie leaned forward onto the counter, a grin finally flickering across his face. “Don’t tell me,” he went on, eyes flicking briefly to the chalkboard menu behind him. “Mystery Monday. And you’ve convinced yourself you’re brave enough to actually do it this time, haven’t you?” Ritchie couldn’t recall if Judy had actually eaten it last time or not, but that was beside the point.

“Of course, I could always get you a nice, safe scoop of vanilla instead.”

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Bee made the lovely grey set<3