RP: A Time for Friends

[rar_lisa]

Date: 18 May 1999 | starts late afternoon
Characters: Lisa Turpin, Terry Boot, Parvati Patil, Anthony Goldstein, Padma Patil, Michael Corner
Location: #42 South Vinewood Avenue
Status: Private
Summary: Friends weather the anniversary together.
Completion: Complete

Comments

[rar_parvati]

Parvati wasn't sure how she should be feeling. She hadn't lost a best friend, like Lisa had, been affected physically like Lavender, lost family members or a piece of herself like so many had. She was lucky, really.

Was she allowed to be upset? Was she supposed to feel grateful? She'd suffered under the Carrows with everyone else, and tired to do her part to help the DA. Still, she came out in tact. It was bittersweet and confusing, not knowing how to feel.

Lisa was suddenly talking to her, and she tried to smile. "Not really. I can help, though. When will Terry be here?" She knew they'd want some time together, and even if Lisa hadn't asked planned to make herself scarce.

[rar_lisa]

Lisa stopped halfway to the kitchen, looking back over her shoulder. "I don't mind. You don't have to help, unless you just want to." She laughed shortly, though it felt funny and foreign, all things considered. "Though I'm sure everyone else will be happier if you help."

In the kitchen, she opened up the cupboard and stared, trying to come up with some sort of meal idea. "I don't know," she said at Parvati's question. "We didn't really make specific plans."

[rar_parvati]

Parvati nodded and followed Lisa into the kitchen. "Your cooking is fine."

Lisa seemed a bit off, but it wasn't a big surprise. Everyone was a bit off, she assumed. "How are you holding up?"

[rar_lisa]

"Me?" she said, pulling down a few items from the cupboard. The question surprised her a little. "I'm all right. Just feel a little...awkward, maybe, more than anything."

Lisa turned back to look at her friend. "What about you?"

[rar_terry]

Terry and Lisa hadn't made firm plans for Saturday evening. He knew he was welcome to go to her house and hang out; she'd even said she would make dinner for him and her roommates. That was fine with him; he wasn't in the mood for cooking, and he needed to get out of his own house. Being with Michael and Greg would remind him too much about the battle, for very different reasons. He needed to be with at least one person who'd not been there, who wouldn't be remembering those events, and that would be Lisa. It wouldn't be a date, but he wasn't in the mood for one anyway. Having a date tonight wouldn't be right, given the anniversary.

Still, he thought it would be nice to bring something uplifting, so he stopped in at the local florist, Daffodils, and got a small bouquet of forget-me-nots. He Apparated to Lisa's doorstep as a light, warm rain was falling and knocked on the door.

[rar_lisa]

Dinner was finished and being kept under warming charms in the kitchen. Lisa was tidying up the sitting room, even though it didn't really need it, when there was a knock at the door.

"I've got it!" she called, not wanting either of her housemates to rush thinking they need to answer it when she was right there. And she knew who it would be.

Lisa smiled softly as Terry's face appeared in the doorway. "Hey you," she said, and then her jaw dropped just the tiniest bit. "You brought me...flowers." It took her half a second to realise that she was so gobsmacked at the gesture that she was leaving him to stand in the rain. She stepped out of the way. "Come in, Terry. Merlin. I was hoping it would have cleared up a bit by now."

[rar_terry]

When the door opened, Lisa greeted Terry, then looked at him like he'd grown an extra head. She was staring at the flowers, and she thought they were just for her.

"Actually--" he began, then thought better of it. "Yeah, they're for you." She finally stepped aside so that Terry could come in out of the rain. He didn't bother drying the flowers, which could stand a bit of moisture, but he did cast a drying charm on himself.

"I'd thought it would be done by now too," he explained, leaning in to give her a quick peck, "or I would've cast Impervius on myself." He handed the flowers to Lisa, sniffing the air. "Something smells good. Are you expecting anyone else besides me, or is just you and me and your roommates tonight?"

[rar_lisa]

Lisa closed the door behind him, then grabbed a candle holder that she transfigured into a vase of an appropriate size and filled with water as he dried himself off. She didn't normally consider herself a flowers sort of girl, but it was sweet all the same. She took the flowers and put the vase on the coffee table.

"I'd thought about sitting outside for a bit later on, but I guess we'll have to see how the weather is," she said, shrugging. He seemed to catch the scent of the food, and she smiled. "Breakfast for dinner. It sounded good when I started trying to think of what to cook."

Starting into the kitchen, Lisa said, "Just us, as far as I know. Though I've made plenty if anyone else happens to stop by. Well, Parvati and I made plenty, I should say."

[rar_anthony]

Anthony could have Apparated directly to Lisa's door, but instead he chose as his destination the end of her street. He thought a short walk would do him good.

He'd been so glad when he received the owl demanding that he come over right away. The company of his closest friends would do him a world of good right now. He scoffed at himself. And you thought you'd be all right alone this weekend. He knocked on the door and waited, the box with Lisa's chocolates in his hand.

[rar_padma]

Being the closest one to the door, Padma was the one to answer it when she heard the knocking. She had been expecting it to be Anthony, of course, having been made wise by Lisa just a little earlier that he would be stopping by. She started to smile at him, but caught something in his face that made the expression crumple and fade. Before she could stop herself, she said, "Hi, Anthony," in a strangely choked voice and then stepped forward and hugged him tightly.

[rar_anthony]

Anthony didn't say anything at first, just put his arms around Padma and embraced his friend for a long moment. Yes, this was exactly what he should have done. Lisa's house was warm and inviting and full of good people and delicious-smelling food.

"Hi, Padma," he finally said into her hair when he thought he could keep his voice from trembling. Her embrace had surprised him, bringing a lump into his throat for the second time that day.

[rar_padma]

Sniffling a little as she pulled away from him, Padma gave Anthony a slightly watery smile and laughed, embarrassed. "Sorry," she said as she backed into the house and held her arm out wide to invite him in. "How are you?"

Which was an entirely stupid question, she knew, but it had slipped out. Ah, well. In for a knut, in for a galleon.

[rar_michael]

Michael knew there was some sort of gathering next door. He just didn't think he could stomach being around a group of people tonight, even if they were his best friends.

He'd received an owl from his father, strongly suggesting his mother may like to see him this weekend. He tossed his overnight things into a small bag and headed next door to tell Terry and Lisa he was spending the night away.

He knocked on the door to number #42. "Oi! Turpin! I know you're in there!"

[rar_lisa]

There was a knock at the door, and barely half a second later Michael's impatient voice followed. Chuckling, Lisa crossed to the door and opened it, standing with one hand on her hip and giving him a smirk. "Yeah? And what if I am?"

She stepped out of the way so he could come in, then noticed the small bag he was carrying. "Planning to move in then, Corner? I'm sure we could find room in one of the cupboards maybe."

[rar_michael]

Michael rolled his eyes at Lisa.

"If you are, I've come to tell you all I'm spending the night with my parents. I think Mum's feeling a bit clingy, and Dad sent an owl suggesting I come home for a bit. Mum will drag me to Mass in the morning and I'll be back in the afternoon. If you're not, I'll just have to leave a note with Padma."

He still wasn't sure if he'd attend the service at Phoenix Park. It depended on how upset his mother was.

He raised his voice a bit. "Have fun everyone. I'll see you tomorrow, or something." He waved and stepped outside to Apparate.

[rar_lisa]

After Michael had gone, Lisa motioned toward the kitchen. "Come on, then. Plenty of food to go around and then some."

She went back and grabbed her plate from the counter, taking a bite of Padma's potatoes. Merlin, she made them better than anyone, if that was possible with potatoes.

[rar_anthony]

Anthony was disappointed that Michael wasn't staying, but at least he now knew where all his closest friends were tonight. He followed Lisa into the kitchen, impressed with all the food the girls had made. He piled his plate with eggs and potatoes, hungrier than he had expected to be.

"Oh!" he said between bites, "I nearly forgot, Lisa. Eleven chocolates, just for you." He produced the slightly squashed box out and presented it to Lisa.

[rar_lisa]

Lisa grinned, reaching across the counter to grab the box. Her mouth was full of sausage, so she examined the oddly mangled box as she finished chewing.

"Interesting choice of packaging, Goldstein," she said, chuckling. "But you definitely know how to worm your way into a girl's good graces. Glad to see you were taking notes." She winked.

[rar_anthony]

Anthony swallowed a mouthful of potatoes and took a long draw from his juice glass. "They looked better before I was squashed by a mob of hugging girls," he teased. "But they should taste all right. Alcohol and chocolate, the way to Lisa's heart. Does Terry know this?" He hoped this was a subject they could finally joke about.