THE RAVENCLAW PRINCESS

chapter 21 - new year's eve

"WHERE ARE YOU?"

Lyra grimaced and held the phone away from her ear as Iliana continued screaming at her. As the yelling slowly subsided, Lyra held the phone back to her ear, "listen, Hadlee's is going to close early today-"

"But it's New Year's Eve," Iliana whined. "You said you would help me get ready!"

"I am," Lyra emphasized. "But it's my last chance in this place before-"

"Bull! You have three days until we have to board the train again and I know how much you can read in that time. Besides, I have a surprise for you so you have to come! Look, have dinner early with your parents and then promptly come here at seven!"

Lyra sighed but became intrigued at the surprise, "fine, see you at seven."

Iliana squealed into the phone and they said their goodbyes. Lyra smiled as she put the landline phone back in its place. Mrs. Hadlee, the owner of Hadlee's Bookstore, had started letting Lyra use the phone after she began working at the store the past summer. Hadlee's Bookstore was Lyra's favorite spot in town, coming just slightly before the local coffee shop. Before Lyra went to Hogwarts, she spent most of her days in the library and the quaint bookstore, and now she continued to spend her time there over the holidays.

"Happy New Year, Mrs. Hadlee!" Lyra hugged the elderly woman as she departed with three books in hand.

"Happy New Year, dear! Stay safe and have fun tonight!"

A little after seven on New Year's Eve, Lyra was lying on her back on Iliana's bed staring at her painted ceiling. Iliana's room embodied her to the fullest. There were miniature murals Iliana had painted herself, vines and plants littered the tabletops and walls, and the recorder in the corner of the room played a quiet melody Lyra wasn't familiar with.

"Illie?"

Iliana hummed in response, curiously.

"Have you told your parents yet? You know about Katya?"

Iliana's eyes widened immediately. Even though she was facing away from her, Lyra could see her stiffen so she quickly added, "if you don't want to talk about it-"

"No, it's not that. I-" Iliana sighed, looking at Lyra through the mirror at the vanity. "I just don't know when or- or how to go about it. I dunno, maybe after New Year's."

Lyra nodded back assuredly, "you should tell them when you're ready. I'm sorry if I stressed you out."

Iliana dismissed her apology with a wave of her hand. She turned around, two nail polish bottles in hand. "Which one?"

Lyra sat up, catching Iliana's cue to change topics, "give me bright red but keep the silver, sparkly one so we can do each other's nails."

Iliana grinned and sat in front of Lyra. The Ravenclaw pulled two pillows from behind her and placed her hands on top to allow Iliana to paint her nails first.

"Okay, when are you going to tell me what the surprise is?"

"In due time," Iliana replied mysteriously while staring at her.

Lyra stared right back at her for all of ten seconds before both girls burst into a fit of giggles.

After two hours both girls had done their hair, makeup, and changed. Iliana had chosen a sparkly silver crop top with a square neckline, black jeans, black Doc Martens, a silver charm bracelet (one she had been wearing every day since Christmas, Katya's gift for the holiday) and straightened her usually wavy blonde locks. Lyra had chosen a fitted black dress with poofy sheer sleeves, black lace up heels, silver hoops, and drew her curled dark hair back into half up half down pigtails.

At nine, the girls were fully ready and came down the stairs to meet Iliana's parents who were leaving to attend their own New Year's party.

"Alright, girls, we're off! Food's in the kitchen, and you know where everything else is. Be safe!" Iliana's mum said as she hugged the girls at the door.

"Knowing Ted, we'll be drinking too much to drive back so we'll probably sleep over at your house, Lyra. But we'll be back around lunch to help clean up. Drink responsibly and have a good time!"

"Bye mum! Bye dad! See you next year!"

"Have fun! Tell my parents I say hello!"

The girls closed the door and made their way back to the kitchen to lay out the snacks and drinks for their friends. They were only in the kitchen for about five minutes before the doorbell rang.

"That's sort of early, isn't it? We told them to come at ten," Lyra said as she started walking to the door.

Before Iliana could cross the kitchen, Lyra was at the front door. As the door opened Lyra was ambushed by a gut-crushing hug.

"Surprise!" Iliana squealed as Charlotte let go of her hold on Lyra.

"CHAR!" Lyra yelled, a wide smile plastered on her face.

"Well I'm here too," Mieko laughed from behind Charlotte.

"MIEKO!" Lyra grinned and pulled her fellow Ravenclaw into a huge hug. "But I thought you couldn't come because your family vacations-"

"It's all thanks to Mieko's parents!" Charlotte spoke excitedly as Iliana gave the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw hugs before ushering them into the kitchen. "They arranged for me to take the floo from MACUSA to the Ministry in London and Mieko took the floo from Japan's Ministry to get back too. Then we took the Knight Bus to get here!"

"It was Iliana's plan though. Couldn't have done it without her," Mieko said, putting a canvas bag filled with more alcohol and finger foods on the counter.

"This is amazing! I'm so excited for you all to meet our muggle friends and-"

The doorbell rang again and Lyra looked questioningly at Iliana. Iliana grinned again and walked past her to the door as she sing-sung, "surprise, part two!"

The other three friends followed Iliana to the door only to see bright red smoke in the doorway. The Weasley twins and Iliana walked into the house and Lyra smirked at their predicament. The red smoke bomb had gone off earlier than either party had intended and now all three were covered in red dust.

"YOU BOYS BETTER HAVE A WAY TO GET THIS OFF OF ME! MY GIRLFRIEND IS COMING AND I BETTER LOOK LIKE MYSELF WHEN SHE DOES!" Iliana screamed at them as the boys dramatically ran to hide behind Lyra and Charlotte.

"Illie, breathe," Mieko spoke from the kitchen doorway holding a wet cloth. "We can fix this, come on."

Iliana grumbled but followed the boy into the kitchen.

"Hey, Picquery!" Fred went to give the girl a hug but she backed away quickly.

"Weasley you better stay away from me!" Fred's eyes suddenly looked dangerously playful as he gave chase. Charlotte gave one last plea to prevent the imminent threat, then ran throughout the house with Fred on her tail.

Lyra scoffed at the two but quickly felt George's eyes smirking at her. "Absolutely not," she began backing away. "George, I swear to Merlin if you take another step I will hex your balls clean off."

George wavered for a moment, knowing her threat to be true, before jumping right before her, "technically I didn't step."

Lyra sprinted into the kitchen, immediately pulling Mieko away from Iliana and used him as a human shield. The two danced around Mieko until Charlotte's shriek and Fred's taunts entered the kitchen and extra chaos ensued.

"Stay back I have a wooden spoon!"

"Red is my favorite color, Picquery. Don't you want some?"

"Stay back, Fred!"

"Come on, Lyra. It would look great on you!"

"Char! Ly!" Iliana called out singsongy. "I would love to give one of you a hug!"

"Oh, forget it. I'm getting the firewhiskey," Mieko rolled his eyes and walked to the counter.