RP: Relaxing After Revising

[rar_hermione]

Date: Tuesday, September 12, 1998
Characters: Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Parvati Patil, Cho Chang, Daphne Greengrass, Neville Longbottom, Wayne Hopkins, Lisa Turpin, Katie Bell, Others
Location: Hog's Head
Status: Public
Summary: After revision group, some members go out for a bite to eat
Completion: Incomplete

Comments

[rar_ron]

As the study group broke up and left the Hogwarts grounds, Ron was pleasantly surprised when Hermione suggested going to the Hog's Head for a late dinner. If they'd gone straight home, they would have had to scrounge up dinner for themselves, plus it was nice to go out with friends on the spur of the moment. It was the sort of thing adults got to do, and Ron liked that new freedom lot.

On the walk to the Hog's Head, Ron noticed that Hermione seemed very tense; he suspected it had to do with memories of the attack but, naturally, he couldn't say anything specific at the moment. When they reached the pub, Aberforth let them push a few tables together, and Ron settled into a chair next to Hermione.

"You okay?" he asked quietly, squeezing her arm gently.

[rar_hermione]

She looked at Ron when he sat down next to her and smiled. It felt like ages since they'd really been able to talk. In fact, she couldn't really remember the last time. She supposed it was something she should expect, considering the awkwardness that had followed her kiss and him deciding that it wasn't the right time for them to be more than friends. Despite the fact that their relationship wouldn't become something else, she still considered him one of her best friends, so she missed talking to him, even if she could understand why it might be difficult sometimes. He was there anytime she needed him, though, so she knew their friendship would at least survive the confusion.

"I'm fine," she murmured, reaching over to squeeze his hand. "I just think about the DA meeting whenever I visit here, you know? Took me a moment to focus on now instead of the past. How are you?"

[rar_ron]

"'m good," he said. "Glad we're not going back to the house right away." He knew Hermione wasn't usually up for crowds, especially not the past month, but this had been her idea so she must be okay, at least with the people in the group. Still, he sat with his back to a wall, facing the door to the pub, just in case. "Yeah, that was some meeting. Won't ever forget that. Think I'll get some butterbeer. You want something to drink? I'll ask for a clean glass."

[rar_hermione]

"Me too," she admitted. "It's nice having dinner out one night before we have to get back to revising and work."

"It was, wasn't it? Turned out to be more people than I ever expected, but it went well." She glanced at him. "Pumpkin juice would be nice, thank you. Can you bring a menu back with you, too? I'm feeling hungry."

[rar_parvati]

Parvati had sort of got used to working on her own at the revision group the last couple of weeks. Somehow, she studied better there than she did at home in spite of not really talking to anyone. Perhaps it was easier to be distracted in her room, when no one else was watching. Not that people watched her or anything. But it was a good sort of peer pressure with the other NEWT students. She had a strong desire to prove herself or something

[rar_neville]

"Did you ask for a clean glass?" Neville quipped for Aberforth's benefit as he stood next to Parvati at the bar. Ab liked having things to grumble about. Neville was glad he'd already come in to see the old man and make amends for not stopping by sooner. Neville would have felt odd showing up with a group his first time back. "I'll take a butterbeer, Ab. Thanks."

[rar_parvati]

"Yes, I did," Parvati said, laughing softly. She suposed she was taking her life in her hands, ordering something not bottled, but as his food had kept them alive for all those weeks, she figured Aberforth had earned her trust.

"How are you, Neville?" she said, looking him over and deciding he looked tired.

[rar_neville]

Neville almost asked her why she asked and what did she hear, when he realized that would be a clear tell that something was wrong. He decided it was best to paste on a smile.

"I'm good, Parvati. How are you?" He'd not had a chance to talk to her during the study group. He saw Lisa Turpin come up behind Parvati and smiled, "Hey, Lisa!"

[rar_cho]

It was only the second day of the second week of NEWT prep classes, but Cho was already tired. There was something about sitting in one class all morning, then spending all afternoon at the Ministry, that was wearing her out. Or maybe she was tired mostly because she was staying up much later than usual, trying to keep up with reading and other homework. Despite being tired, Cho welcomed the idea of going out with a group for dinner. She'd not done anything like this in weeks, and she really needed this sort of relaxation.

As she'd lived above the pub for a couple months after the battle, Cho knew Aberforth quite well. "Hello, Ab," she greeted him warmly. "I'll just have a butterbeer."

Ab nodded and smiled; he'd served Cho a few too many glasses of firewhiskey during the summer, so he was well aware that if she asked for something less serious, she couldn't be doing too badly.

[rar_harry]

Study group had gone well, and Harry was glad they'd decided to go and have some dinner afterward. It was nice to get out and socialise instead of going straight home. He'd seen the notice on the bulletin board in the common room about Dueling club, too, reminding him to put some feelers out and see who else might be interested in one for the NEWT students.

When they reached the pub, Ron started talking to Hermione, and he gestured at them both that he'd go to the bar and pick up some drinks. He waved to Aberforth as they approached and ordered three butterbeers before he smiled at Cho. "Hey Cho; good to see you."

[rar_cho]

Cho had just got her butterbeer from Aberforth when Harry approached her. It was good to see him outside of classes and study group.

"Hi, Harry," she said. "This was a good idea, going out for dinner as a group. I'm glad I came; I needed a break. How are you doing?"

[rar_harry]

"I think after last week we all did," Harry said emphatically, offering a half-grin as Aberforth slid him the drinks. "First week of classes was even more grueling than I expected, and I had high expectations. Or low ones, I suppose, depending on how you look at it.

"I'm alright," he continued when she ask how he'd been doing. "Bound and determined to have a life outside of studying, but I can tell it'll be a challenge."

[rar_daphne]

Daphne decided to head out after revision group for a change. She had been working so hard that she'd decided she really needed Tuesday evenings off. Now she would be taking classes five days a week, working Saturday and Sunday at the apothecary, and spending the majority of her evenings on schoolwork.

With such a full schedule, Daphne was doing fairly well so far, but since there were others heading to the Hog's Head for a drink and some food, Daphne figured she could spare the time, as well.

Heading up to the bar, Daphne approached with confidence and ordered a single firewhiskey and a butterbeer chaser. When she was finished with that, she promised herself, she'd have something to eat.

[rar_wayne]

Going to the pub for dinner sounded good. Wayne planned to make lasagna later in the week, but it was too late to really think about cooking now. Study group was fun and useful, sure, but it ran until eight, which later than he'd want to make something too complicated.

He tagged along with some of the group to the Hog's Head. Parvati was there talking to Neville, so he didn't want to interrupt them. Looked like some had got a couple of tables, which was cool. He'd order something then go on over.

He went to the bar and grinned at the girl beside him. "Evening," he said, remembering her from study group and classes, though they'd not actually talked. He reached for a menu and ordered a butterbeer as he tried to figure out what to eat.

[rar_daphne]

Daphne turned to see a rather good-looking young wizard whose name she did not know. She was sure he was in her same year, but couldn't remember which house he'd been in, either.

"Good evening," she returned, blushing a little. "I'm sorry, but I don't remember your name. I'm terrible with names."

Just then the firewhiskey and butterbeer appeared before her and she reddened a little more.

"Daphne Greengrass," she said, holding out a slender hand.

[rar_wayne]

"Couldn't remember if you'd never learned it," he said, shrugging. "Don't think we've ever talked, yeah?"

"Name's Wayne Hopkins." He shook her hand then picked up his butterbeer. "You eating tonight or just drinking?"

He took a sip before he studied the menu. He finally decided on Shepherd's Pie because that wasn't something he'd likely ever make for himself.

[rar_katie]

Having the morning off, Katie'd spent it in the Department of Transportation, trying to arrange a portkey to Omagh. Of course, due to the increased presence of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, portkeys has been suspended, pending further notice. The closest she could get was a portkey to Belfast, which was an hour and a half away by car. So Katie had to come up with some way of getting herself from Belfast to Omagh, which was proving very difficult.

She'd not thought about coming out to the bar - she felt rather anti-social at the moment - but she figured instead of wasting the evening fretting in her bedroom, she could fret with other people. So it was with some reluctance that she made her way to the bar.

When Aberforth asked her what she wanted, she hesitated before answering "Firewhiskey. Double." He looked like he wanted to say something, but held his tongue, pouring her drink.

She tossed it back. She'd not touched a drop of alcohol in weeks, but she needed something to help her unwind a little.

[rar_ron]

Ron spotted Katie from across the pub and, after taking his leave of Hermione for a few minutes, made his way over to the barstool next to Katie's.

"Hey, Katie," he said, giving Aberforth a look. "How's it going?" She looked a bit tense so he wouldn't be surprised if her answer wasn't all sweetness and light. "We got your owl about the party. 'm sorry about your friend."

[rar_katie]

Katie looked up to see Ron sitting down next to her. "Hi Ron," she said, giving him a rather weak smile. "I'm okay, thanks. Spent this morning in the Department of Transportation. No luck though. I might be coming to Hermione's party after all," she said with a shrug.

"Have you decided on a present for her yet? I've not thought about it really. Not in great detail."

[rar_ron]

"No luck, huh? Can't get a Portkey to Ireland?" Ron let out a sigh. "That's shite. Well, if you can come we'll be happy. And if you can't we'll understand." Terry had said he was coming, but Ron figured Katie already knew that.

He shook his head. "Nah, not yet. I'll probably end up waiting until Saturday and then buying something at Flourish and Blotts. That sort of present always seems to make her happy."