Daley Manor Party

[daleysabrina]

You can do this.Sabrina took a deep breath, looking herself over again in the free standing body length mirror inside her bedroom, flatting out the flowing top that Martha had helped her pick out for the party. Even though she had a walk-in closet filled to the brim with brand new, gorgeous clothes for literally every occasion, Bri still felt her

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[finnagoon]

Even after all of these years Seamus still felt drawn to Orla, though he couldn't exactly say why since they were actually so completely different. But it was never something that he really talked about, not really knowing who he would talk about it with if he even wanted to. Dean hadn't been around the year that he started seeing Orla and it might have been a sensitive subject with Marlow. It could have been argued that Seamus stole her from Jonah, the two of them falling into something almost as soon as she had fallen out of it with the youngest Linney.

At the time Orla had been a distraction, the Gryffindor common room sometimes way too painful for him to stick around, and she was pretty and knew how to have a good time. It was easy to forget about the war that was raging on around them when he was with her, even if it was just a few stolen moments.

While the two of them never really did a lot of talking, Seamus sort of felt like Orla felt the same way as he did about the whole thing, thankful to have each other in a time when everyone felt alone and scared. And it was dumb, like really dumb and he was thankful that he didn't talk about it because he sounded like a complete fool about it all, but they had shared something back then that he'd never share with anyone else and maybe that kept him coming back to her.

Not that he was thinking about that now, throwing back the last of his whiskey as he turned towards Marlow. Of course not.

"Hey- I could go if you wanted," he offered, that smug grin turning into something much more genuine as he watched her. It wasn't a come on, not in the least.

But nobody wanted to leave a party alone, go back to their empty flat with nobody to talk to-

[marloww]

When Marlow was younger, the castle had always been her favorite place. There was always a corner to sneak off to, an old hallway to explore and she was never alone- not when she didn't want to be. Whether it was Lavender, Seamus or Dean, she never really felt lonely. But lately, that had changed.

The castle became a bit colder, a bit bigger and lot more intimidating.

Although if she were to admit it to herself, she'd find that Marlow was alienating herself from all the old things she loved. Mostly because thinking about what put her back in the castle permanently hurt too much to really stand. She'd rather live in a bit of denial before even relating the cause to-

Nevermind.

She offered Seamus a cheeky sort of smile.

"Is that an invitation?" she asked, glancing up at him.

[finnagoon]

Seamus had never really understood how Marlow could consider that castle home, all the mystery and excitement fading away for him once the war had hit and they were sneaking around for DA meetings, doing all that they could just to make it out alive. It was a shame really, considering that most of his best memories were made sneaking around the halls for very different reasons in their younger years, always finding himself disappointed on his way back to Ireland.

The idea of Marlow leaving this party and heading back there now gave him an all too familiar uncomfortable feeling. There had definitely been something off about her, something he didn't completely pick up on earlier in the party, but it was more apparent now that they were alone.

"Yeah, the night is young," he assured her, throwing his arm over her shoulder and tugging her closer. "We can put on a movie or something back at my flat-"

[marloww]

Almost instinctively, Marlow curled up against Seamus, her arm curving around his back as she looked up at him. This was a familiar position for them, their affection for each other never exactly kept private. But it was always innocent.

Mostly.

Nearly always.

And she had to admit, nothing sounded better right then than a movie night with Seamus, especially after seeing just how gaga Dean was for Sabrina.

"Something scary?" she suggested.

[finnagoon]

"The scariest. I got some new ones too for when you decided to pay some attention to me-"

There were very few things that Seamus liked more than their Scary Movie Night traditions, turning the lights down low and curling up together under a blanket while they threw popcorn at each other for flinching if anything popped out on the screen. And now that his buzz had worn off and Dean had caught up to his new girlfriend he was starting to realize just how much the two of them needed just that.

And while he would tease and make comment to Marlow almost relentlessly, that all was the furthest thing from his mind as he pulled her in closer, gripping his wand tightly as they were pulled out of the empty hallway and back into his cozy flat in the hub of London.

[marloww]

She didn't even blink an eye as they appeared in the middle of Seamus' flat, the place just as familiar to her as her own home. She had certainly spent more than a few nights here, curled up on his couch, some terrible and awful horror film scaring the hell out of her. She nearly always had a nightmare or two but it was always so much fun, the two of them scaring each other.

She stepped back, her eyes turned upward at him as she put her hands on her hips.

"Pay attention to you?" she asked him, raising her eyebrows. "Do you think I don't pay enough attention to you, Seamus?"

There was a candor to her tone, a playfulness that was typical between them, but in her question was a bit of sincerity, Marlow suddenly looking up at Seamus with a small smile.

[finnagoon]

If anyone expected him to actually stop hinting at some sort of more intimate, or even romantic, relationship with Marlow then she was going to have to stop being so damn adorable all the time and driving him mad. Somehow over the years she had gone from this gangly, quirky kid and turned into this- and it was torture half of the time.

But he wasn't going to think about it, he had already decided and Seamus Finnigan didn't go back on his word.

"No, I don't think that you do, Marlow," he told her smugly, eyebrows arching playfully as he held his ground on the matter.

"You haven't been over in months. Don't say that you haven't been neglecting me-"

[marloww]

"Months?"

She contemplated that accusation, wondering what on Earth would have prevented her from not making the visit to her very best friend's flat for their typical hangouts. But then, she realized why, and sort of shifted where she stood. She offered him an odd quirk of a smile.

"Well, yeah, I suppose it has been that long-" she offered, raking her fingers through her hair. "But um, I'm here now?"

[finnagoon]

There was no missing that there had been a change in Marlow since her break up with Riley, a party of him relieved that she was newly detached while a very different part of him worried about her. It was a very conflicted and confusing feeling, which may have lead him to selfishly ignore it all together.

"Don't do that-" he told her, nudging her gently before pulling away to make his way into the kitchen for a few drinks and that popcorn he was just itching to toss at her.

"Nothing sappy until we're at least half way through the film. That's the deal-"

[marloww]

A sheepish grin tugged at her lips, Marlow all but kicking herself for allowing her mind to wander back to that part of her- even if it was just for a moment. She shrugged her shoulders, taking her coat off and dropping it beside his as she turned, her eyes following him as he moved into the kitchen.

"Deal-" she repeated, shaking her head. "Oy, don't you dare try and bring that kettle corn in here like you did the last time. I want my popcorn covered in butter or else-"

It was easy to fall back into this sort of mood with Seamus, the boy so bloody easy-going. It felt good to be around him again.

[finnagoon]

"Are you totally bonkers? How are we even friends if you don't like kettle corn?" he asked her, rolling his eyes as he rummaged through his pantry for the boxes of popcorn.

Though, after their last debate over the best way to eat his favorite movie snack he had stocked up, knowing that it was a losing battle when it came to Marlow. Some people held firm in the things that they believed in and he just had to accept that they'd never see eye to eye on this one, no matter how tragic that might have been.

"Good thing I'm the absolute greatest-"

Seamus held up two bags, one movie theater popcorn and the other kettle corn, for her to see.

[marloww]

"We're friends because I'm brilliant, obviously-"

The retort came quickly, the only time Marlow ever felt ridiculously smug was when she was around Seamus. It was easy to fall into that banter with him, to tease each other about the most inane kind of stuff.

Even now, as the bags of popcorn hovered beside his face, she had to roll her eyes.

"The greatest?" she all but scoffed, moving into the kitchen to lean against the counter, a smirk tugging at her lips. "You're prepared, which is lovely- but the greatest? I just dunno about that-" she added, with a wistful sigh.

[finnagoon]

Now this was much more like it, that quick fire sass that he just loved so much. What was the point of these movie nights if they weren't going back and forth, teasing each other and playful bickering? After all, to Seamus at least, that was the sign of true friendship.

"Well, this is going to be the very last time I take care of you-" he told her, rolling his eyes as he placed each back onto the counter. Seamus pulled out his wand, tapping it against each of the bags in turn, and within just a few seconds they were fully popped and steaming hot.

"Next time you come over all you've be able to find is kettle corn- everywhere. I might even start sending it to you in the post-"

[marloww]

She crossed her arms against her chest, the sleeves of her sweater pulled down over her hands as she looked up at him, craning her neck slightly at his stupid, annoying height. She pouted her bottom lip, her round doe eyes staring up at him.

"But that's not fair-" she said, a little dejected look settling on her face. "You're so good at it-"

And to be fair, he actually was. He always had been, from when they were little even. She would try and keep up with Dean and Seamus as much as possible, running alongside them- but there were moments she knew he'd hang back to keep steady with her, and he'd never say anything about it.

[finnagoon]

Seamus had grown up an an only child, with a very doting mother and a father that was convinced working long hours on the farm turned a boy into a man, but he had so quickly fallen into the habit of taking care of and worrying about Marow. It was remarkable really, considering that half the time he wasn't even able to take care of himself. The two of them had learned to lean on each other, especially in that year when Dean was out on his own, and had learned how to pick up each other's broken pieces.

"Alright- I'll give you another shot, Linney," he told her, a stern look on his face and fighting off the urge to pull her into his arms again, those doe eyes doing a number on him. Always had.

"I promise you'll never go without buttered popcorn in my flat ever again or a best friend to shield you from the scariest parts of the movie-"

[marloww]

"You're the best-"

She darted forward, wrapping her arms around his waist in a hug. It was all a goof, this little act they were putting on, Marlow pouting and Seamus conceding, it was how most arguments between them went. Still, she meant it.

She looked up at him as grinned.

"Dunno what I would do without you, really," she said, before considering that. "Probably be a lot fitter, maybe- considering all the butter I'm consuming here."