Hello, and welcome to Drabbletober. This is an occasional bonus episode, for the first of September, 2026.
Distraction Tactics
by Elizabeth Guilt
"Sculpins? My study. Now!"
Master Board swept past, his gown trailing a wake of angry sparks. Sculpins scuttled in behind him.
Words escaped past the slammed door.
"Disgraceful behaviour... Trusted... Expensive... Phoenix wings indeed..."
When the Master stormed out again, we were all bent closely over boxes of newts' eyes, or assiduously counting replacement wand-tips.
Sculpins, when he emerged, did not even look shamefaced.
"Phoenix wings?" hissed Turner. "You can't have hoped to get away with putting them on your order."
"Oh, no. Course not."
"So why..."
"He didn't notice the gold ceremonial blade. Got away with that, didn't I?"
This is a true story, as told by my Dad. Admittedly, he worked for an engineering firm not a wizards' suppliers. His colleague was told off for ordering a Land Rover from Stores - but it was enough of a distraction that his boss missed the large and expensive socket-set.
Correction: Dad reminds me that it was not, in fact, a socket-set (which would have at least been relevant to the job). It was an expensive and wholly-unjustified pair of binoculars.