let's party like we're still fifteen because life wasn't so hard then [party]

[so_harry]

12 Grimmauld Place hadn't ever looked so festive before. Streamers were lingering in the exposed beams, fashioned Hogwart House crests were in their own separate rooms- the Slytherin crest up in the attic, where he was absolutely sure a ghoul was hanging out- and food and drinks set up in nearly every room he could stuff them into. Thank Merlin

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[zoeyday]

Zoey was, as ever, very highly amused by this whole spectacle. Harry had absolutely outdone himself this time. There was a distinctly We're using the Room of Requirement for improper means air about the whole place

[so_harry]

"Do my eyes bloody deceive me?"

Harry was perhaps, two sheets to the wind- not nearly as sloshed as he could be, but pleasantly warm and fuzzy. He had just returned from the kitchen, making sure to charm enough ice back upstairs before returning to the festivities. He had just granted Jemma Dorny ten points to Ravenclaw for managing to show up when he saw another truly favorite blond waltz into the room-

and reminding him of some Muggle pop-star he couldn't name.

"I'm having flashbacks to my fifth year, Ferris- and feeling wildly inappropriate right now."

[zoeyday]

"Then my work here is done," Zoey turned, flashing a grin at the host himself standing in front of her.

There were definitely some interesting times back then, and more than a few of them involved similar outfits.

"So, tell me, Potter. How many points to Gryffindor for this?" Zoey tossed her hair over her shoulder and motioned to her incredibly inappropriate outfit with the hand holding her drink. She went far enough to strike a post, hand on hip and hip cocked.

[so_harry]

Harry took the moment to really settle into the scene before him. Things with Ginny may have been veering into a proper territory, and for which, he was grateful- but he was still a person with eyes.

"Well-" he said, clearing his throat.

"I'd say, oh I dunno, maybe 100 points-" and he flicked his wrist with his wand and a waterfall of red glitter appeared out of the air.

"Yeah that sounds about right-" he grinned.

[zoeyday]

Zoey wasn't as interested as she'd once been in being so unaffected by everything. Instead, she let herself laugh at the glitter and confetti Harry had conjured.

"Well, damn, I guess I've still got it." It was definitely an ego boost, she had to admit. Considering Zoey spent most of her time chasing her daughter or teaching various routines to teenagers who always stayed young and beautiful while she just got slowly older, this was definitely something she liked hearing.

"You've put together a pretty good group here. I'm pretty impressed with it. How's hosting treating you?"

[so_harry]

"Very well, I might say," he said, taking the moment to do a little bow, as if it was actually necessary. It wasn't, but he was going to do it anyway.

"Mind you, I will have to grant Ginny about 500 points later for what I just did for you," he told her, a befuddled grin on his face. "But honestly, it's been a good night- I reckon exactly what everyone needed-"

At least he hoped.

That had been the whole point of this, after all.

[zoeyday]

"You were going to do that anyway," Zoey waved a dismissive hand. She might not be up and up on all the most recent gossip, but she could have called back in her sixth year that it was only a matter of time for Harry and the youngest Weasley were completely inseparable.

"It's been a really good night. Looks like everyone's having fun." Glancing around she could almost pinpoint which couples would be having a bit too much fun by the end of the night. Granted, that probably didn't matter much since you could throw a party cup in any direction and hit a married couple.

"So, catch me up. Not on anything serious, businessy, and/or depressing. Gossip or nothing. I haven't seen you in too long."

[so_harry]

Harry spotted a few free spots on the cushy couch and grabbed Zoey by the wrist. He had been standing and schmoozing all night and this was a sign to sit and chat and properly divulge everything he knew he could tell her that was actually happy.

He might only have three things to say, but it was something.

Once they were both settled, he leaned back, his too tight trousers tugging at his thighs and letting air breeze by his ankles. Whatever, it was a look.

"Let's see-"

He paused.

"Well, happy? Not serious-"

He rubbed at his hair.

"I'm still alive, so that's good?"

[zoeyday]

Zoey was glad she's opted for flat shoes when Harry dragged her across the room by the wrist. Not that she really minded. The whole atmosphere had her in the mood not to care about much.

"Did I say happy? Why would I ever accuse you have having happy gossip to share?"

That was the world they were in, always. They never seemed to have too much happy to go around, especially Harry, poor guy.

"But I am thankfully you're still breathing, that's true. What nonsense have I missed around here tonight?"

[so_harry]

He grinned, a real cheeky grin.

"Malfoy is here," he said, cocking his head as if to say, 'yeah, I know.' "He's been working with me, he's an Auror trainee right now- so as part of his training, I told him he had to come and deal with everyone-"

He laughed.

"Mostly he's here to be uncomfortable, and I get to witness it."

[zoeyday]

A proper spit take, that's what that got him. Zoey mostly managed to cover, only choking a little. She brought a hand up to wipe at the corner of her lips and turned around to get a good look at where Malfoy may be hiding.

"Auror trainee? Really?" There was so much information that she couldn't sort if fast enough.

"And he's actually sticking around? And suffering without a tantrum?" She couldn't even believe it. My, my, how the times had changed.

"This is glorious. Tell me you've someone running around taking pictures to commemorate the occasion."

[so_harry]

"Colin is here, somewhere-"

And in that moment, a bright flash and snap went off in the corner of the room, Romilda Vane giggling brightly as Colin took a photo of her and Fay Dunbar near the fireplace.

"I'm sure he's gotten more than enough to keep us laughing for ages," he said, before taking a swig of his firewhiskey.

"I have to admit, though, and you can't tell a soul, Zoey Ferris-" he said, leaning in closer toward her. "Malfoy hasn't been that bad. He's one of my top trainees-"

[zoeyday]

Maybe it was because she was primed for it, but Zoey's eyes went straight to the flash. Then she rolled her eyes because Romilda would always inspire that reaction in her.

Turning back to Harry, Zoey widened her eyes in only partial exaggeration.

"Yeah? Who would have thought, Draco Malfoy a productive member of society and the Ministry to boot."

That definitely sounded different and completely unexpected. She was glad it was working out though or Harrywould have even more headaches than he already had.

"You're not just saying that because you guys could use all the help you can get, right?"

[so_harry]

Harry knew better than to lie to Zoey, even if it was something relatively harmless. So, he shrugged, a confirmation that she might have been right.

"I would like to say it's a combination of both," he told her. "As much as I would like it to be more of the former- if only because who knew Malfoy could get his shite together-"

[zoeyday]

"I guess everyone had to eventually, though, right."

Zoey gave Harry an assessing look for a moment before glancing around the room, eyes stopping in a few conspicuous places.

"I guess it wouldn't be the weirdest thing, though." She nodded toward Cecilia Jacobs - now a Weasley - and Sebastian Daley - now a werewolf.

"Everyone grew up, I guess. Just took some people more chances than others."

[so_harry]

"You're right-"

Harry leaned back into the couch, his legs positioned just slightly apart enough so that he could rest a pretty bare ankle against his knee, his arms sprawled back against the length of the back.

"I'll be glad to see him get himself together if it means I have another bloke on the force-" he admitted. "I feel like we've been too short-staffed for too long, and I think Linney's retiring soon-"

He groaned.

"Which means I think I'm the new top idiot-"