RP:Get your drink on

[pb_neville]

Characters: Neville Longbottom, dennis creevey, ginny weasley, harry potter, lavender brown, neville longbottom, ron weasley, sam kennerly, seamus finnigan (ADD YOUR TAG AS YOU ARRIVE)
Location: Three Broomsticks
Date: August 21, 2000
Status/Warning: Open/None
Summary: A toast to surviving, and those who didn't.
Completion: InComplete

Comments

[pb_seamus]

Seamus didn't want to arrive early and look so earnest, but the truth was that he really did want to see everyone now that it'd been some time; he'd even woken up early and gotten back into the city to tie up assorted loose ends, not wanting anything to distract him from tonight. It would be good for him to be around people who just wanted to see him, not poke his scars or ask him concerned questions about how he was feeling. Though Sea had no doubt he'd be hearing some of that tonight, likely, it wasn't so bad when it wasn't your parents or various annoying aunts and uncles. The only person comfortable to be around had been grandmum, when he'd gone back to Ireland; she hadn't had much to say about werewolves, considering everything else that could have happened to Sea

[pb_neville]

Neville heard his name, and he couldn't help himself, it might make him a girl, but he absolutely lit up at seeing Seamus, alive, whole, and much the same as ever. It was a good thing, to help push back the mental picture he'd been carrying for over a week.

"Sea!" He stood, moving to Seamus and wrapping his arms around him in a huge bear hug, still grinning his relief. "You are a sight for sore eyes. Rosie!" He called." This one's on me." He moved back to his seat, taking another sip of his pint.

"So. Been back to work?" Nev had thought about it, and had not wanted to be the one to gush sympathy, or ask the awkward questions, so he went the more impersonal route for now. "Looks like the remodel is coming along."

[pb_seamus]

"Oi, you--"

And Seamus returned the embrace firmly, mostly because it made him embarrassingly, violently happy to have someone excited to see him. The free drink helped, as well, and a quick wave to Rosie; things felt exactly as they had been (though perhaps more like a reunion), and while for a moment it was even surreal he couldn't complain.

He took a seat next to Neville, still grinning loopily. "Naw, I ain't goin' back till I have to. Haven't felt like going in, I dunno, an' I been in Ireland since I got out the hospital. First time since... School's end."

[pb_neville]

Nev smiled back. "Good time for a vacation, I guess. Oh, seeing family? How are they then?" He meant to ask how are they taking it but the important bit was he was alive to have that problem. Could have been worse, nearly was. Neville determinedly plowed on, "So, you got a good load of that Irish shite you like to brag about in your system. Glad to have you back." He took a pull on his drink.

[pb_lavender]

Lavender tentatively entered the 3Bs, not sure who would be there. She was a bit on the early side, and she'd hadn't talked to Neville for more than a moment when he told her about it at their building.

She hadn't gone back to her scarves, though, not after that conversation with Melinda. She was infinitely glad she hadn't been in Diagon that day - but she reckoned she needed to try and stop pitying herself, not after everything that happened since.

She still thought they made her ugly, but she wasn't going to cover them up. She was who she was - and she was with friends. Tonight was about them, not her.

[pb_neville]

Neville saw Lavender come in, and waved from where he was seated with Seamus. He thought a bit belatedly, that it might be seen as rude if he called her over, but he was already beckoning. She looked nice. And... no scarves. He wouldn't have noticed except she looked a bit less relaxed than normal, and he was almost more used to not seeing her scars, though he knew they were there.

"Hey Lav. Can I buy you a first round?" He asked.

[pb_lavender]

Lavender made her way over to where Neville and Seamus were with a smile. "Hi Neville," she greeted him. "Sure. How have you been? I haven't seen you for more than a moment or two in ages."

[pb_neville]

Nev reached out and arm for a side hug. "Well, been busy. But good. So used to seeing you fly on by, like a blonde blur." He joked. "Pint ok?"

[pb_ginny]

The great thing about living in Hogsmeade was how close it was to the Three Broomsticks. Ginny loved being able to walk a few feet and have people to talk with. She popped home from practice and changed, knowing she could take her time.

When she entered, she already saw a few familiar faces, although Harry wasn't there yet. She waved to Neville, glad to see in person he was okay after the whole ordeal. He was talking to a few people, so she went to the bar first to get a drink before mingling.

[pb_sam]

Sam had arrived with Seamus, but hung back a while out of respect. He'd gotten a quick visit before the return to Ireland, and, perhaps more than anyone, Sam understood that this was Sea's step to take. The first attempt at normalcy was always the strangest.

So Sam had taken a Sea at the bar, still with the group, but not really interacting. He was more nervous than he let on, taking the pint Sea had ordered for him in small sips. He smiled in greeting to the pretty red head who strode up to the bar to order, although most of his attention was still on Seamus and Neville.

"Erm, hello." Sam began, unsure. "Are you one of Sea's friends?"

[pb_ginny]

"Hi," Ginny said with a smile. He seemed a little shy, which was funny in a pub full of rowdy Gryffs. "And yeah - I went to school with him, although I was a year behind. Ginny Weasley," she introduced.

She didn't recognize the bloke. "How do you know Sea?"

[pb_sam]

"Um, Sam McKinnon, I work with Sea at the shop." There was no need to tack on 'I was there when...' because if he was there, with them, that much was obvious. At mention of the school, Sam brightened a little out of curiosity. "You went to Hogwarts? What was it like?" Probably an odd question for someone who still looked school age, but perhaps under the circumstances it wouldn't raise too many eyebrows.

[pb_ron]

Ron put his head down the bar for a moment, pint already empty. It was getting a little too loud in the Three Broomsticks, and he'd made his salute -- if only for a half moment, it was a bit more somber than he would've liked. Remembering the fallen hadn't ever been Ron's strong point; it made him feel a little too much, and it wasn't like dead people really knew you were honoring them. (At least, Ron had never gotten the impression that they did, even if tonight he felt particularly sad at their passing.)

He enjoyed the laughter, though, and the chatter of his friends; after a moment to himself he lifted his head again, grinning down the bar to whoever happened to be sitting on his left.

"Hullo."

[pb_dennis]

Dennis kept a tight hold on Orla's hand. His own hand had healed nice, but there were still faint scars from the glass cuts; the ones on his back were worse. While Dennis knew this was a time to see everyone he missed over the summer, he didn't want to let go of Orla.

He kissed her hair line and whispered he loved her. "You want something to drink?"

[pb_orla]

Orla knew she had to be driving Dennis nuts, being so bloodly clingy, but she couldn't help it. She was more starry-eyed now than she had been at Hogwarts when all he did was tease her and make her laugh and show how much he loved her with every look.

She gave his hand a squeeze and smiled up at him. "Maybe some butterbeer?" She didn't care for alcohol, not with having to serve it as she had.

[pb_dennis]

He smiled down at her and ordered two butterbeers. "Hey, did I tell you? Hagrid owled and he wants me to help with the train arrival. So, I'm going to stay here on the 31st."

The girl working the bar slid two glasses towards him. Handing Orla a glass, he said. "I can't believe I have to school already."

[pb_orla]

Orla smiled. "That's wonderful. You're just the man for it. Though I don't know, am I dating the future groundskeeper of Hogwarts?" She teased leaning up for a kiss. "You're great, and its wonderful he's recognizing it."

She took a sip, taking a stool across from him but turned to face him. "I know. I can't believe I'm not going back." She fiddled with her glass. Was now the time to tell him?