New Years Eve Bash at Lavender & Mandy's (Invitation Only)

[lavender_x]

The year was coming to a close but Lavender refused to make any new resolutions. The way she saw it, she had already started over two months ago when she returned to England after six years of traveling for work. Now that she was back she was working to find a balance between the person she had been and the person she had become. She didn't want to

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[flightyfay]

There was something to be said for a good old house party, especially when one of the hosts was one of your best friends. Fay had got well and truly comfortable as soon as she arrived, and within the hour her shoes were abandoned somewhere in the flat. At first Lavender had been spared as she let her ex-classmate welcome people and be a good host, but now it was time for catching up, and nothing was going to stop her.

Swooping in, Fay collected Marlow and Lavender, linking arms, and lead them to the kitchen. "Ok, Christmas. Gossip. All of it! Oh, and nice place and party by the way, and happy new year and all that jazz." Even as she spoke she was pouring drinks and passing them out.

[lavender_x]

Lavender followed Fay and Marlow into the kitchen, feeling warm and fuzzy after a few rum and cokes. It was nice to see everybody buzzing about her flat and laughing with each other. It was almost like they were back at school again before all shit hit the fan.

"Christmas gossip? Like my mum trying to sing jingle bells in five languages?" she laughed, reaching for the rum. While it may not have been news worth it was hilarious to watch.

"Seriously, though? You know the same old story - swooning over Roger and amazing sex."

[marloww]

Marlow had been preoccupying herself with a shot glass, nearly ready to fill it to the brim when Fay and Lavender got a hold of her. She had to admit, she had been hanging back most of the night, doing her best to avoid any sort of question about where Riley was or why she had shown up alone. She had half a mind not to come at all, thinking holing up at her office back at school might be a better option.

But it was Lavender's first real place.

She had to make it out. So, she took a long, hot shower, put on some make-up, brushed her hair and tried to find something to wear that didn't scream 'I just got dumped' to the whole world.

That didn't mean she was eager to make conversation. She was, however, absolutely interested in the drink Fay was handing her as Lavender spoke up first.

"You two officially sorted through things, then, eh?"

[flightyfay]

"Five languages? I don't think I can even say hello in five languages!" Fay momentarily let herself get distracted , pausing and silently counting in her head and with her fingers. "Ok, maybe just, but still. Good on your mum!" She decided.

"Or are we talking a lot of makeup break up sex?" Oblivious to Marlow's pain.

[nevilleee]

Neville was grasping a large tray filled with cakes and treats his Grandmother insisted he bring, in order to be a good guest. He hardly managed up Lavender's steps and knocked on the door awkwardly with his foot.

Within moments, Hermione swung open the door. "Oh, Neville!" Before he could say anything, he felt the tray being ripped from his hands and saw it fly through the room and out of eyesight. Neville could see Hermione shaking her head at him and sigh lightly. He cleaned his shoes off on the doormat, and stepped into the flat, "Hey, Hermione."

She hugged him quickly, shoved a champagne flute in his hand and said something about having to check on something in the oven.

Neville swallowed and scanned the room briefly. He spotted a cute potted plant in the corner and headed straight for it.

[marloww]

Marlow was excited to see Neville arrive, knowing that he could absolutely use a night away from his greenhouse. In fact, she was halfway through a conversation with he caught her attention. She was about to make a beeline for him when he wandered toward a plant in the corner.

A plant.

Bloody Neville.

Eventually breaking away from Jonah and pushing him in Fay's direction, she moved over toward Neville.

"Don't you think you've had enough of greenery, yet?" she asked him, smiling brightly.

[nevilleee]

"Oh," he blushed, "You know... just, checking," he said as he nervously tapped his glass.

"You look brilliant," he said without thinking, taking the smallest sip of his drink to hide his deepening flush (small because he didn't like it, and because his nose got in the way of the narrow glass).

He looked around the room full of, mostly, Gryffindors. "It's like being back at school, huh? Well, I mean, like back when we were students."

[marloww]

"Thank you, Neville-" she said, her bottom lip between her teeth as she tried not to smile too hard. It meant something to hear it come from him, of all people.

She followed his gaze, her hand gripping at her third glass of champagne, taking in all their friends around them.

"It's nice, isn't it?" she asked, her hand reaching out to linger on his arm for a moment. "All of us being able to get together like this?"

[so_harry]

This might have been the last place he wanted to be.

With what happened in Hogsmeade- with the revelation that this wasn't a wizard, Harry had rung up Scotland Yard immediately, having to go well above his own pay grade to get into contact with the Captain there. The uneasy relationship the Ministry had with the Muggle government always left Harry uncomfortable.

He wasn't ever sure they were taking him seriously.

But even though his head was back at his office, he knew he couldn't ditch his plans with Skylar- and he couldn't ditch Lavender's party.

Speaking of which- the hostess was exactly who he was looking for.

"Lav- hey-"

[lavender_x]

Lavender had just excused herself from catching up with Travis Briggs, her cup in desperate need of refilling. The night had barely began and she had already had quite a few rounds herself. It helped calm her nerves and keep her mind off of the articles in the Prophet.

"Harry!" she beamed, not hesitating to wrap her arms around him. "Isn't this great? Having everyone together?"

[so_harry]

He hugged her back tightly, a laugh catching in his throat at her question.

"Couldn't think of a better way to spend the night-" he told her, offering her a smile. It really was impossible to be in too foul of a mood when Lavender was grinning like that- it lit up her whole damn face.

"I- erm, wanted to see how you were doing-"

[lavender_x]

It never felt complete without Harry added to the mix. The year he had been gone left Lavender uneasy for months. He was a comforting presence to her.

A very sexy, comforting presence.

"Me? Oh well-" she pulled back slightly, her arm still wrapped around his waist. "I little shaken up. Maybe another reason I'm so happy to have everyone. And you, of course."

[skylar_x]

Skylar felt more than just a little bit out of her element at Lavender's party. While everybody was familiar to her she didn't actually really know anyone there. But when Harry had asked her, there was no way she was going to say no even though it was the first New Years that she wasn't going to spending with The Ravenclaws since she was eleven years old. The idea of it stung but she reminded herself that at least she'd be ringing in the new year with a kiss from Harry. It helped lift her spirits.

They had gotten separated pretty early on, despite small space. Harry had mumbled something about wanting to talk to Lavender privately and she went off to mix herself a drink. Even though it was a golden opportunity to observe the group she so often wrote about, Skylar wasn't in the mood tonight.

When she spotted Jonah, her face lit up and she was thankful to find him alone.

"Jonah!" she greeted, bouncing over to him in her sparkling heels. "I didn't know you were going to be here."

[chase_em]

He'd been appreciative of the invitation from Lavender, finally having something else to go to than the party the rest of his teammates were throwing at some fancy bar he'd never heard of before- Dance somethingorother. He'd wanted to keep the night low-key, stay away from tequila and try and enjoy himself. Of course, that had been before his sister was brutually dumped on New Year's Eve, leaving him to pick up the pieces and bring her away from the flat she shared with Riley.

It had been a weird day and he was still feeling a little out of sorts, his eyes fixed on his sister as she poured herself another drink.

Hearing his name was a relief and when he turned to find Skylar, he couldn't help but grin.

"I could say the same-"

[skylar_x]

"You know I'm full of surprises," she told him, wrapping an arm around him, careful not to spill her drink. Vodka soda with lime, her favorite.

"Harry brought me but of course he was swept away-"

[chase_em]

"Ah, as Potter usually is-"

Jonah scanned the room, his eyes landing on the bloke at the drinks table with Lavender. The two of them looked about ready to go shot for shot. He shuddered at the thought, glad Ella wasn't around not to tempt him.

He looked back down at Skylar, giving her a squeeze.

"You doing alright? You know, what with this practically being a Gryffindor reunion?"

[george_goesboom]

It hadn't really been George's intention to show up fashionably late, though thinking back to it, he probably should have expected the distraction they'd stumbled into when he had shown up to Cecilia's flat to pick her up before heading to Lavender's together-

Nonetheless, they were here now, properly dressed again and making a bee line for the drinks table. While he was having a good enough time greeting the roomful of familiar faces as they passed through, he could only imagine that this was not the easiest of crowds for Cecilia to be finding herself in.

He gave her hand a quick squeeze, smiling back at her as he snatched up two empty glasses. "I'm glad you came-"

[ccecilia]

She had put a great amount of effort into getting ready for the evening- her hair had been sleek and her make-up perfect. But then George walked through the door, she took one look at how handsome he was and well, she couldn't help herself. (As was always the case.)

Something in her was amplified after they exchanged that 'love' word.

She was even braving a party where she knew that at least half of the room thought she was still the evil bitch she was in Hogwarts.

But at least she looked fairly nice.

"You kidding?" she asked him, "I wouldn't miss kiss you at midnight for anything, Weasley."

[george_goesboom]

Fairly nice was an understatement, as far as George was concerned. Especially now that he'd had a chance to ruffle her up a bit - all sleek and made up was just great, but there was nothing quite like the sight of her looking just a tad disheveled.

And as far as the rest of the party was concerned, let them try and judge. He had a whole lineup of comebacks ready for anyone that dared to make any sly remark.

He pulled at her hand to draw her closer to him, the empty glasses hanging and clinking together between his fingers all but forgotten. "I'd've hunted you down by then even if you hadn't tagged along, Jacobs."

[ccecilia]

She wondered how obvious it was how hurriedly they got dressed, the way her hair was still a little messy, no matter how much she tried to flatten it down with her hands. But she didn't much bother with her hair now, the way his hand drew her closer causing to distract her significantly.

"Would you, now?" she asked him, eyebrows hitched curiously. "I didn't know you were into such things-"