Protego's shop was not one often visited by students, so it was not usually affected by the start of the new school year, but as a resident of high street, he did notice how the crowds died down once September rolled around. He was sure the increase in business was nice for most shopkeepers, but Protego always thought it was nice to return to a more normal pace for things.

He slipped into the Three Broomsticks at a bit of an odd time--about an hour before the usual supper rush, though there was always someone about, it seemed. He headed toward the bar to order himself a drink and whatever was on the menu for the evening. "Good evening," he greeted at the bar.

---

"Mrs. Honeycutt," Protego greeted with a smile. "A whiskey and a plate of whatever you've got on the menu tonight," he said, settling himself on a bar stool. He did like keeping up with his fellow high street denizens. He'd grown up in the family shop, and it got a little lonely having his own shop, even if Protego wouldn't trade it for anything. But he was a social creature by nature. "How's business been today?"

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"Thank you," Protego said gratefully. "The summer's always such a whirlwind around these parts, it's a relief to get back to something more normal." He wasn't too affected by school schedules, but the high street did get rather crowded in the last few weeks of August. More people was always good for business, so it was a balancing act, always. "And of course, what can I help with?"

---

Protego made a sympathetic noise. "A right mess, sounds like," he said. "I'll take a look at it. Hopefully it's nothing too complicated." And if it was, hopefully the box itself wasn't sentimental. He wasn't sure what he could do, for instance, if her wand had managed to fire off a powerful sticking charm or something like that, except try to get into it the old-fashioned muggle way. Well, anyway, he had many options before they got to anything so dire.

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