Witch Weekly Annual Holiday Party (Thursday 12/19)

[daphne_x]

The Holidays were a cheerful and festive time. In fact, this season was Daphne Greengrass's favorite time of a year. Everyone seemed to be in a better mood around bright lights, wrapped presents, and the jingle bells. It was about the only time that she preferred to see snow on the ground rather than feel the sand between her toes

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[lavender_x]

Lavender Brown was not used to dressing up. Even after all these years, the red carpet events and the balls, she still felt very out of place in anything other than jeans and a loose tank top. The girl was clumsy and fidgeted too much. Ever since her fourth year at the Yule Ball when she had spilled her punch all over some pour Hufflepuff girl she felt like a danger to herself and others. Really, she had been distracted by catching sight of Roger slipping out of the Great Hall with Fluer at the time. But it had scarred her none the less

[rkdavies]

Roger was running a bit late. Granted, that should shock literally no one since he lived his life in a state of perpetually five minutes behind. He was a busy man; it couldn't be helped. Usually he was distracted by something he'd left for the last minute, and this was no different. He'd completely forgotten he needed a new suit for this thing. If it had been up to him, he'd have just worn something from some other event, but his publicist - which he'd never stop being baffled about having in the first place - would go into conniptions, and Roger didn't have the kind of time it would take to deal with that

[lavender_x]

There were more people at this event than Lavender had anticipated. She watched them come in and disappear while she waited for Roger, doing her best to look amused and not completely idiotic standing there all alone. A few old classmates came through and smiled their hellos to her, over all, where much too occupied by their own dates to pay her much attention.

And then she saw him - looking as handsome as ever. Lavender would never quite get over the fact that Roger was with her - not just here, but always. He had always been comfortable with woman and his new career only expanded his reach. Yet, here he was. A wide smile on his face just for her.

"Roger, hi," she breathed, feeling a little bit foolish now in her extravagant gown. "I love the new suit, stud."

[rkdavies]

"I'm glad you approve," he laughed. Reaching out to take her hand, Roger lifted it to place a gentle kiss on the back. "My suit has nothing on that dress. Stopped me dead in my tracks."

There was a teasing smile on his lips, but he meant it with his whole heart. He'd never get over this new confident Lavender - even if she was still building that confidence back up - and didn't think he'd ever want to. She was surprising all the time, it was refreshing and fascinating all at once.

[lavender_x]

"I wanted to make an impression for our first official night out together now that you're a big, fancy Quiddich star," she mused, winking up at him. Which was only half true. The hopes of seeing that look on his face, like he was seeing her for the first time all over again, was definitely part of her motive.

His gesture made her stomach flip. One of the magazine's photographers caught sight of Roger's entrance and clicked away, capturing the moment. Lavender couldn't help but blush lightly - it was something the girl would never grow out of.

[rkdavies]

Roger could have been playing this up for the cameras, but he hardly noticed them at this point. If he was on the street, it was daunting. At something like this, hosted by an organization like Witch Weekly nonetheless, photographers were just another part of the process. He just hoped they'd been kept to a minimum outside of the entrance hall.

With practiced ease, Roger looped his arm around Lavender's waist and gave the photographer at least one shot with an actual smile before turning Lavender with him to guide her toward the actual party itself. "Quidditch star or not, you've just been made social news. How's it feel to be on the other side of the camera?" Hopefully, it didn't bother her, even if she looked so damn beautiful when she blushed.

[lavender_x]

"I'm just glad I wore a new dress," she laughed, doing her best to stay steady on her feet while the cameras were still in view. Lavender imagined she would be of any interest to them. But, it made sense. The only Burning Man survivor reunited with childhood love turned star. It seemed like a story any photographer would be dying to capture.

They fell in step easily enough as they passed through the front entrance. Lavender noticed the immaculate detail that had gone into the space and, for just a moment, felt a little jealous of the photographers here. The lighting was perfect to capture the elegance.

"I don't think I've even had my picture taken in years," Lavender confessed. It became easy to hide behind her camera rather than jump in front of one.

[rkdavies]

"That's changing tonight," Roger grinned. While photographers could be annoying - the ones who were just trying to capitalize on something and someone who shouldn't be worthy of the attention, Quidditch players generally included - some people deserved to be photographed.

"Because it's a shame. You always look stunning. Women should be jealous of you right now, and men should be jealous i get to be here with you." Maybe he was laying it on a bit thick, but it wasn't intentional. The atmosphere had the perfect mood, Lavender was alive and out in public, and Lavender and Lily had successfully interacted throughout dinner. He had a lot to be in a zealous mood about.

[lavender_x]

"If anyone is going to be jealous of it, it's going to be because I'm here with you," she countered.

Lavender may have found a new sense of confidence but she was still as modest as ever. She had discovered a little femininity over the last few years - a better sense of style and her hair was finally bouncing rather than laying limp. The girl had even managed to drop a dress size but that was mostly due to how much running around she did on location. None of it had gone to her head. She still saw herself as a mess of limps and blonde hair.

"But I can see how they'd be jealous of how fucking happy we are together," Lavender added, keeping her voice a little lower the moment she had decided to curse. She couldn't help it. It felt as though things with Roger were just getting better every day now.

[rkdavies]

Laughing, startled into it, Roger pulled Lavender closer. "Ridiculously fucking happy. And everyone should know it." She still had the best sense of humor and it had always kept Roger from going too maudlin. How he'd made it all these years without being a pessimistic jerk without Lavender there to temper it was a mystery.

"I'm thinking I need a drink. Before we have to be nice to the most annoying people." He glanced around for a waiter. "Did you ever learn to schmooze? Can you teach me your ways?"

[lavender_x]

Now she was laughing along with him as she leaned against him. While Roger could brood better than anyone she knew, his smile and that laugh made her stomach do flip flops.

"I promise you I am a schmoozing pro," she told him. Lavender had a bad habit of putting her foot in her mouth in social situations but somehow found the off switch for professional ones. She had sat in on enough interviews to have learned to bite her tongue. "You'll be a crowd favorite in no time when I'm done working this crowd."

[rkdavies]

"Brilliant. You'll be my publicist's new favorite. She'll likely send you a gift basket." Roger was still laughing when he let go of her to take two glasses from a waiter, one for himself and the other to replace Lavender's .

"Just promise you'll send it back. Never encourage her. You have to drive her as insane as I do. Best pass time."

[lavender_x]

"Oh, then the poor girl has no idea what she's in for. Remember all the trouble we caused for Chris, the kid two blocks over that shoved me that one time at the park?" she laughed, her mind drifting back more than twenty years at this point. Roger and Lavender had always been an unstoppable team.

"But I highly down itching powder is the way to go now that we're old and professional."

[rkdavies]

"I'm pretty sure the itching powder was better than the slug candies we tricked him into eating." When they had been children, anyone who so much as looked at Lavender the wrong way was likely to endure pranks and backlash for a week, at minimum. It couldn't be helped. They'd gotten into so much trouble before they learned how to actually be stealth about things.

"Itching powder might still work." Roger adopted a thoughtful look. "Just maybe we'll save that for team members I can't stand."

[lavender_x]

Lavender's eyes went wide and her smile was even more so. The idea of putting itching powder anywhere was far too tempting for a woman of her age. She was essentially the same Lavender, making jokes and looking up at Roger with complete admiration.

"I would if I didn't think I'd get fired and they'd send be back away to who knows where," she said, only half serious. "That is, unless you're ready for a trophy girlfriend."

[rkdavies]

"Please, I'd take a trophy girlfriend in a heart beat." He gave her a wink and grinned around his glass when he took a drink. "Any excuse to show you off."

Truth be told though, if that was actually how things worked out, Roger wouldn't mind. But he knew Lavender and knew she'd never be happy being so still. Maybe he shouldn't have been so shocked that she'd taken off to see the world. She was too adventurous to be locked to one place forever, at least physical location wise.