RP: Birthday Cookout

[rar_harry]

Date: 27 July 1999
Characters: Harry Potter, Neville Longbottom, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Pansy Parkinson, Seamus Finnigan, Luna Lovegood, Greg Goyle, Draco Malfoy, Katie Bell, Susan Bones, Hannah Abbott, Lavender Brown, Charlie Weasley, (more to be added; add your tags when you come in)
Location: Hawthorne Park, Hogsmeade
Status: Public

Comments

[rar_hermione]

Everything seemed to be set up. Hermione stopped by to check on George and then continued on to make sure that they hadn't forgotten anything. They had managed to secure a nice area of the park with enough room for all the guests to sit and talk and also space for dance if they wanted. Fortunately, Pansy had known people who could cater and set up a dance floor, since it probably would have taken her longer to locate that information. As it was, everything looked really good.

She met up with Pansy and smiled. "It looks like everything's ready. George is planning to work on different light shows throughout the night, but he'll not do anything to mess tonight up, so it should be interesting. Can you think of anything else before we go mingle?"

[rar_pansy]

Pansy glanced down at her list of things that needed to be done the day of the party and shook her head. "I'll want to check on the caterers in a little bit, but for now they seem to be handling things just fine."

"It looks great so far," she said, smiling sincerely at Hermione.

[rar_neville]

"You two are amazing. Thank you so much," Neville said coming up to hug Hermione and Pansy, adding a kiss to the latter's cheek.

"Why don't you both relax? You can give me directions you know and I can follow them, even if I don't really know the first thing about organizing this sort of thing." Neville did take direction well.

[rar_hermione]

"Alright. That's good. I'll be around if you need me for anything. I think the caterer said there would be someone assigned to cooking the meat, so we can probably get them started soon."

Neville joined them, and she smiled. "Happy birthday, Neville. Early, but still," she said as she hugged him. "Actually, I think we have everything in good order. You and Pansy can try out the dance floor, if you'd like. It needs a good testing." She smiled and winked at Pansy.

[rar_katie]

Katie had taken lots of care with her appearance. She smoothed down the front of her pink sundress. It didn't fit as well as it used it; the weight she'd lost made it fall a bit flat. But it was still a nice dress. She'd curled her hair and done her make-up, hiding the dark circles under her eyes.

She looked pretty. Maybe even beautiful. Katie wanted Dean to see that, to see her and realize how good they were together, how much he missed her.

She picked up Neville and Harry's gifts and apparated to the park with a smile on her face.

[rar_neville]

Neville waved, "Hi Katie! Thanks for coming. That's a nice dress." He wasn't a fan of pink himself but he knew girls liked it and Katie did look good in it.

[rar_katie]

Katie smiled when she saw Neville. "Hello! Happy Birthday!" she said, pulling him into a hug and kissing his cheek. "Can I give you your present now, or do I have to put it somewhere?" she asked, holding up the package.

[rar_neville]

Neville blushed a little but at least he didn't stammer. "I wasn't planning on opening anything just yet, but I would if you wanted me to." Neville didn't want to be rude. "I want people to relax and have a good time, so whatever pleases you, pleases me."

[rar_draco]

Draco made a habit of being on time for these kinds of things. It was easier to convince himself to stay when people had the choice of spending time around him, and therefore could leave if they so desired. Besides - he'd been invited, and he was determined to socialise, even if this wasn't exactly his circle of friends. Presents, naturally, were something to consider, and he didn't think he'd done too badly; of course, despite not particularly liking Longbottom, it was his party too, and naturally Pansy would be involved. He couldn't give a gift to one and not the other

[rar_harry]

Harry had scooped Teddy up like a sack of flour or a quaffle, his arm around Teddy's middle, holding him against his side as he ran around in a circle. It was one of Teddy's favorite activities for the moment, and it never failed to send him into fits of giggles. A year ago and this would have made Harry feel weird to do where people could see, but he kind of liked making Teddy laugh more than he hated being conspicuous.

He slowed to a stop when he spotted Draco walking over the grass, carrying packages and looking around. Katie was here too, but Neville was chatting to her now, and so he made his way over to greet Draco. It was good of him to come, anyway.

As he reached Draco, he swung the boy up to a more upright position, settled into the crook of his arm. "Hullo. Er. Thanks for coming."

[rar_draco]

Draco hesitated as a swirling mass of Harry Potter span closer, not looking where he was going. Just as he thought it might be a good moment to get out of the way, he slowed, and Draco stopped and straightened up, raising an eyebrow at his antics.

"Nevermind that," he waved his hand, dismissing Harry's manners. "Teddy looks like he's having a good time. May I swap?" He lifted the portrait pointedly. "This is for you, and I'd rather you opened it sooner rather than later, so that it can go somewhere safe."

[rar_harry]

Harry cleared his throat, relieved; maybe there wasn't much bitterness between them anymore, but he suspected that formalities and such would always feel weird, no matter what.

"You want to swap for Teddy?" Harry asked, somehow surprised that Draco didn't seem to want to get as far away from a sticky child as possible. But he took a moment to consider that Draco and Teddy were cousins, after all, and he reached out with his free hand to take the large square package from him. "Right then, here you go," he said, handing over the somewhat bouncy boy. "D'you want me to ... maybe we should go over here." He walked over to the tent. "Is it fragile or something?"

[rar_susan]

Susan looked around warily. It had been a long time since she'd seen any of her friends, throwing herself as she was into her work in Hit Witch training, but she'd been surprised by the invite in the post, and desperate for a little companionship from those her own age, had quickly scraped up a few knuts to buy some presents, deciding to make cute boxes of chocolate creams for the boys, which was cheaper than buying them in the sweetshop, either way.

Dressed in her cutest set of sunshine yellow robes, with daisies embroidered around the hem, a few strands of hair from her temple pulled back and braided over the rest of it, she made her way into the park, marvelling at the effort that had gone into making the party.

Still, there weren't many people here yet... She'd feel a little strange interacting right now, so, biting her lip, she went to sit down on one of the park benches to just watch for a little while.

[rar_hannah]

Hannah was on time. She had brought two pies; despite the fact that the invitation had said that there would be food.
After she put the dishes down, she searched for a familiar face. Susan's hair still hadn't grown into her old mane but Hannah recognized her nonetheless.

"Susan," she called as she approached, "it has been a while."

[rar_susan]

"Hey!" Susan stood up immediately, waving at her friend, then pulled her into a swift hug when she reached her. "Helga...I missed everyone so much!" She leant back, just to look over Hannah. "You look stunning! What have you been up to?"

[rar_hannah]

Hannah returned the hug with equal enthusiasm. "It is Hannah," she quipped with a smirk on her lips.

"Thank you, so do you." Hannah wore light beige linen pants and a yellow cotton polo shirt. "Oh you know," she shrugged, "teaching at Sunny Days how to count and write your names. And you? Training going well? I ran into Stephen the other day, he is in your class."

[rar_lavender]

Arriving at Hawthorne Park, Lavender looked around as she tried to spot either of the birthday boys. She was alone at the moment, having gone to Bluebell Cottage to see if James had finished work yet, only to discover him up to his elbows in a substance that only a herbologist would have the stomach to go near. So he was planning to join her later if he managed to finish what he was doing, which she was already looking forward to.

Boys were always annoying to shop for, so Lavender had fallen back on the easy sort of option of a bottle of wine and a pack of socks with the days of the week embroidered on each pair for both of them.

A dog came sniffing around her ankles as she approached the blanket and Lavender bent down a little to give him a scratch behind the ears. "Hello, gorgeous."

[rar_harry]

"If you give him too much attention, you won't be able to get rid of him," Harry said with a chuckle as he walked over and saw Lavender scratching Dodger behind his ears. "Ear scratches from pretty girls are kind of his weakness."

He grinned and put his hands in his pockets. "Thanks for coming, Lavender."

[rar_lavender]

Lavender looked up at Harry grinning. "I think being petted by a girl is a weakness for any male of the species," she remarked, giving Dodger a last scratch before straightening up.

"Hello, Harry," she said, moving to give him a kiss on the cheek. "Happy... early birthday."

[rar_harry]

"Guess you're right," Harry admitted. "I'm sure he'll be pleased to know he's normal, anyway."

He ducked his head and smiled as she kissed his cheek. "Thanks -- erm, in advance," he laughed. "How are you? I have to say, it's kind of brilliant having my housemates all here together."