RP: Welcome to the Swamp

[pb_rosmerta]

Characters: Madam Rosmerta
Location: The Three Broomsticks
Date: October 31, 1999
Status/Warnings: Open/None
Summary: Party at the Swamp
Completion: In progress

Comments

[pb_luna]

For Halloween, Luna had dressed as 'the ghost that won the Headless Hunt'. The costume consisted mostly of riding robes Charmed to be a slightly transparent ghostly grey (although her dress underneath protected her modesty) and a handbag Charmed to look like an annoyed ethereal head. Her father had looked slightly perplexed when she unzipped its scalp to get her mirror. With a bit of make-up, she had managed to make her own head seem like it may be removable. Mostly she just looked like a grounded spirit, because it was definitely the floor she was walking on.

"Happy Halloween!" she chimed as she skipped into the Three Broomsticks and set her handbag-head down on the bar.

[pb_rosmerta]

"Happy Halloween!" Rosie called back. "Nice head. What can I get you?"

[pb_luna]

"Thanks. I like your costume." Smiling, Luna promptly unzipped the top to get her purse.

"Can I just have a butterbeer?" The last time she had gotten outright drunk had proved to be interesting.

"Halloween should happen more often."

[pb_katie]

"Hi, Luna," Katie said, brightly, as she came over to see her fellow DA member ordering a Butterbeer. "I love your costume. Very creative!"

Katie had changed into her Lady Guinevere costume earlier and done up her hair with pearl accents to match with George's King Arthur costume. They made quite a handsome couple all dressed in their historical garb, Katie thought. It was great fun to get out and celebrate with friends... after all, Katie deserved it.

[pb_charlie]

Charlie hadn't expected to have the evening off but Ernie's kids had been invited to a Muggle friend's to do that Trick or Treating bit where the tots run about and scavenge candy from neighbors. His wife decided to go along just in case, so Ernie had decided to cover the shift allowing Charlie to get out. He'd sent an owl to Athena to let her know he'd be at The 3Bs if she was able to join him

[pb_cho]

Cho was certain she would not enjoy any Halloween parties. For the most part, she'd spent the past few Halloweens with her cousin -- feeling awkward dressed as a fairy or angel in front of people she barely knew -- and the holiday had sort of lost its charm. But this Halloween there was no reason not to try and be social; she always looked cute in a costume, at least. And she'd promised herself not to stay at home and mope, even if it meant distracting herself with old classmates.

Sigh.

Wandering into the swamp without Percy -- she hadn't bothered to ask if he'd be able to make it, wanting to reassure herself that she could indeed make appearances without him -- Cho was immediately (stereotypically) drawn to Charlie's costume. Her own was a slightly vague Alice in Wonderland she had enchanted to sparkle lightly as she walked. Hiding behind a cup of swamp juice, she made her approach. "Hello, Charlie. I like your costume."

[pb_charlie]

"Thanks, Cho. Is my work-a-holic brother with you?" he asked looking around for Perce. "How have you been? Any word on your audition?"

[pb_cho]

Cho flushed slightly. "No, he isn't..." With a wan smile, she shrugged.

Nice of you to remember.

"My audition went very well, thank you." She brightened a little, cheered by the thought. "I got the position."

[pb_hermione]

Hermione had fretted over her costume. On one hand, she was twenty years old now and she liked feeling attractive. On the other hand, she was twenty years old and should be above such things as wanting to gobsmack people by making an effort to look attractive.

In the end, her choice between the corseted gown and the dancing costume was decided by the simple fact that Hermione really liked the sparkling gem in her navel and wanted to show it off. Costume decided, she carefully cast a concealing charm to cover the curse scar Dolohov left on her torso. It wasn't hideous but she certainly looked better with it concealed than not. She also cast a warming charm on her lace-up sandals and added jingling bands of coins to her hair and ankles

[pb_harry]

Harry and Ron followed Hermione into the Three Broomsticks and took off their cloaks. Harry was dressed all in black and carried a sword for his costume as a ninja, which he thought had been inventive, but had not been too costly or attention-grabbing, which was the way he liked it.

He was about to take Hermione's cloak from her, when he saw what was underneath and his jaw dropped wide open. He tried to think of something, but it was as if his brain had completely shut off. His mouth was open, but there was no sound coming out and he was frozen in place.

It was only when Hermione twirled around that he snapped out of it, shut his mouth, took her cloak and mumbled something about her looking nice. She was breathtaking - he had no idea what to think, let alone to say to Hermione, about her outfit. He was completely dumbfounded.

[pb_hermione]

Hermione grinned, pleased by Harry's response, or lack of one. "Your face says it all, Harry. I can see you like it. You're very kind," Hermione toed up and kissed her friend's cheek.

"Oh, look! Luna's here. And Charlie. Oh! He has a new tattoo. He didn't have that one on his arm last year. It looks great in here. Where should we sit?" She realized she was rattling on and stopped to let Ron and Harry get a word in.

[pb_harry]

Harry's face turned a little more red than he would have liked. Hermione looked bloody brilliant and... he couldn't be paying attention to the way Hermione looked right now. He had to find Ginny. He knew she was supposed to be there somewhere, but she hadn't come with them - she'd probably had practice until late - but Harry was determined to keep his mind, and eyes, on Ginny only.

"Uh, maybe by the door so we can keep a lookout for Gin or do you think she'll Floo?" he asked Ron.

[pb_draco]

It had taken him several hours to actually make the decision to go to the Hallowe'en party at the 3Bs, and several hours more to figure out some sort of costume that wouldn't give away his identity. He knew it would be damned near impossible to spend more than a few minutes there - if Rosie didn't throw him out immediately - if he went without hiding himself somehow. Fortunately, Hallowe'en made it de rigueur to cavort about the countryside in disguise. He'd rummaged through the storage rooms in the Manor, and discovered that apparently one of the Malfoy ancestors had possessed a tendency towards being a bit of a dandy, and a colorblind one at that. Knee-length breeches in a tawny color, a waistcoat in red and gold - Draco had a bit of a laugh over that one, figuring no one would pick him out in those colors - and a frilled cravat made the basis of his costume. With a pair of black boots and a many-caped greatcoat and top hat, he thought he looked rather like someone who'd just walked out of Victorian London. Maybe Jim the Rippist, if

[pb_hermione]

Hermione finished a dance with Charlie Weasley, who was surprisingly good for someone brawny. He'd teased her about it being a great way for a bloke to hold a pretty girl close, so of course he'd learned how to dance. He was such a flirt but an innocent fun one.

After their dance, he'd gone off to the gents and Hermione was looking around for Luna when a tipsy bloke bumped into her knocking her into another man. "I'm terribly sorry," she said. There was no reason for her not to apologize just because the drunk hadn't bothered. "Are you all right?"

[pb_draco]

He staggered slightly when someone ran into him, and Draco turned, eyes narrowed behind his mask. They widened as soon as he saw the outfit that had smacked into him, and it took him a long moment to drag his eyes up from the sparkly navel to the face.

Thank heavens he'd chosen to wear the mask, he thought. His expression could not have been more startled. Only the reminder to himself that he wasn't going to speak kept him from stuttering out a shocked 'oh my god, Granger'.

Instead, he inclined his head and tipped his top hat, bringing one finger up to his mouth in a universal shushing gesture.

[pb_hermione]

Something about the gentleman was familiar. Hermione assumed she'd been at school with him at some point. "Oh, a mime," she laughed. "All right, Sir Aphonic. You have a wonderful costume. It looks vintage. Is it truly authentic?" She realized she was babbling but hadn't introduced herself, "Oh, I'm sorry again. I'm Hermione Granger." Hermione offered her hand.

[pb_ron]

Ron moved to the bar, to get the drinks for the three of them, and waited for Madame Rosmerta to come over and serve him. She looked so festive that his sour mood lightened slightly, "You look gorgeous as always," he said, as he took a deep breath, "How are things? The place looks amazing," and he ordered the cider for Hermione, and then asked, "Is the swamp juice strong? I need some strong drinks tonight?"

[pb_rosmerta]

Rosie flashed Ron a smile, knowing he'd probably blush like he always did and sad thank you. "You don't look to bad yourself. It's better decent on the strong scale. I can make you a strong batch if you want me to." she said, pour a cider for him first.

[pb_ron]

He did blush, but he felt slightly reckless, "Bet you say that to all of the good looking blokes," and he knew he was being a tad cheeky, "Yes, stronger definitely sounds good for tonight," and he had a direct tone to his voice that he knew betrayed his false bravado.

[pb_rosmerta]

"Only the ones dressed as pirates," she teased back, giving him a wink before mixing him two of the Swamp juices with an extra kick. "Here, love. Have a good time. Hermione sure looks like she plans on having some fun." She gave him another wink before moving down the bar to another customer.