Starlight// FW

A Party

**** 

 "A party?", Lacey said, her eyes lighting up. "A party", I nodded. "That's so exciting", giggled Rachel. Hazel grinned widely, "I can't believe you got invited to a Gryffindor party". I was lying on my bed, my stomach full from dinner. We had eaten our fill, tired from the day's excitement.  "Don't make it sound like that", I laughed, "It was just the twins". Rachel snorted, "Just the twins?". Lacey stopped rummaging in her trunk for a moment, which she had been doing since I mentioned a party, "Seriously, Sawyer. They're actually like popular".

"And not in the annoying way", finished Rachel. I looked at Hazel who said, "Well, they're kinda right". I had never really thought about the fact that Fred and George were popular, but I guess it was true. They came from a well known family, they were funny and loud and on the Quidditch team. "I mean, yeah I guess they are", I admitted. 

Hazel laughed and said, "Look at you go. Best friends with the Weasley twins, ex-lover of none other than the true Hogwarts champion". Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "I do not think I would qualify as Cedric's ex-lover", I snorted. Rachel burst into a fit of laughter. The sun had fully set now, the time around 8:30. "We need to start getting ready!", called Lacey, popping her head up from her truck, a lacy skirt in her hands.

"Getting ready?", I raised my eyebrows, "I was just going to wear this". Lacey shook her head ferociously, "No you are not". I shot her a look. "Fine", she gave in, "But at least take your hair down". Rachel nodded, "Please it's so pretty". I let out a breath and then, "Fine". Hazel smiled widely. "Tonight's going to be great", she said, applying lip gloss, "I bet the party's going to be wild, everyone's so excited that Potter did so well".

Lacey and her began to discuss, and I moved to the small mirror we had set up in the corner of the room. I took down my ponytail, letting my long hair fall down. I shook my head in order to add volume. My hair was naturally straight and a deep black. I assumed that my mother must have had the same, because my dad's hair was light brown. His eyes were also green, very different from my icy blue ones.

I brushed through my hair and smiled. I was nervous, but I felt like tonight would be fun. Fully out of my comfort zone, but fun. I turned around and smiled. "We should go soon", I let out, "We're going to have to be careful getting there, just to make sure no one get's in trouble". "I like this new rule breaking Sawyer", Lacey winked.

After 45 minutes of trying to get everyone out the door, we finally were off. We walked as if we were going to go to the library, then split off in the direction of Gryffindor tower. "It doesn't seem like a party is going on in there?", Rachel let out as we approached the fat lady, who was snoozing. I bit my lip, she was right. Was this a practical joke or something? I would murder Fred and George if they did something like to me.

Suddenly, the portrait swung open and a hand reached out and grabbed me. The scene in front of me was unlike anything I could have imagined. Music blasted, banners reading GO POTTER billowed above. A table stacked high with cups and bottles of various colored liquids. People stood around the room, dancing and drinking. I recognized a few Hufflepuffs and one or two Slytherins. The hand who grabbed me belonged to Fred, who's breath smelled like a mixture of sweet and spicy. He looked at me and winked, "Hello, beautiful. The hair's working for you, love". 

Lacey let out a giggle. George appeared out of nowhere, "Evening, ladies!", he called. Hazel smiled, taking in the view of the room. "How did you mask all of this?", I said, my voice raised over the din. It was truly a feat, the hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. "That would be due to Ms. Granger", George smiled, gesturing to Hermione. She waved when she saw me, sipping out of her cup.

I waved back. "What are all you doing standing there without a drink in your hands?", Fred said suddenly. George slapped his twin's back, "Freddie here has gotten a head start on the drinking". Fred began to jokingly push us in the direction of a large group surrounding the drinks. Lacey and Rachel smiled, making their way to the table. Hazel followed soon after. I hovered back.

"Come on, love", Fred doubled back, noticing I wasn't moving with the group, "What are you waiting for?". I chewed on my lip. Fred was obviously drunk, and while it was very entertaining to watch, I was nervous. "Oh, well", I started, blushing deeply, "I've never...". Fred's eyes widened, "You've never been drunk?". I looked at him through my eyelashes, "Never had a drink actually".

He let out a booming laugh, and I felt my cheeks grow more red. I moved away, plopping into a chair in the corner of the room. He followed, calling, "Wait! I'm sorry, I'm not judging". He plopped down on me. Not next to me. On me. I stifled a laugh, ah the drunk brain. He twisted so he was facing me. "So wait, you're parents never even let you have like a glass of wine at dinner". I looked down, "My dad doesn't drink".

Fred was about to say something, when Hazel appeared. She held two drinks in her hand. Fred leaped up saying a little too loudly, "I'm sorry am I in your spot?". Hazel looked at him for a moment, then plopped onto my lap. "Really?", I laughed. She nodded, handing me a drink. "Oh... I'm not going to", I started. "Yes you are", she cut me off, "I spelled it so it won't taste like alcohol. I'll stay tipsy so I can keep an eye on you. Let go, baby".

I had a choice, to sit in this chair and watch the night go by, or to seize the moment. I tilted my head back, downing the drink. Hazel was right, it just tasted like a sweet drink. "There you go!", cheered Fred. I giggled, and Hazel reached over, refilling my cup. I smiled, tonight was going to be one to remember.