Crescent Moons ; J.S. Potter

30. dancing queen.

tw: excessive drinking, acting under the influence of alcohol

Daisy's seventeenth birthday was in two days. This meant that James Potter was intently focused on planning the craziest birthday party known to the Gryffindor common room. He had already set up a karaoke machine, flashing lights, a huge cake from the house elves, and spread the word to every single Gryffindor. The one thing that they missed was Firewhiskey, which James had deemed "the most important part."

"I just don't understand why we can't use the Firewhiskey from your party," said Marlee at James. James groaned.

"Because we drank all of it!" exclaimed James. "And that was like ten bottles. Since it's two people's birthday, we need twenty bottles this time."

"How do you plan to get twenty bottles of Firewhiskey?" asked Daisy. James reached into his pocket and pulled out a small clear bottle.

"With a little luck," he said. Daisy's eyes widened. "Remember that Liquid Luck that I won from Slughorn? Might as well use it."

"You can't waste your Liquid Luck on a birthday party!" cried Daisy.

"My choice, my lady," shrugged James. "So, here's the plan: Ben, Thomas, and I'll sneak into Hogsmeade using my grandpa's old map. We'll go to Weasley's Wizard Whizzes. The only person there that'll sell me Firewhiskey is my Uncle George. Uncle Ron used to, but Mum had a ... talk with him. Anyway, that's where the luck comes in. With the help of good ol' Felix, Uncle George will be the one running the cashier when we get there.

"After we get the Firewhiskey," continued James, "we'll sneak back into the common room, where the house elves will have already placed the cake. On your birthday, we'll turn on all of the lights and the karaoke machine. Nobody is sleeping until three o'clock in the morning."

"Yes, sir," said Benjamin, holding up his hand in a salute.

"Alright, ready, lads?" asked James, looking around the common room to make sure nobody else was looking at them. Thomas and Benjamin nodded. He opened the cap of his bottle, put it to his mouth, and chugged it down. Daisy's jaw dropped. James' expression morphed into an even smugger look. He grinned.

"How d'you feel, mate?" asked Thomas cautiously.

"Brilliant!" answered James. "I think we should go. Right now."

"Right now?" asked Thomas. "Thought we were going during lunch, you know, when the Professors are distracted?"

"Yeah, but it feels like Weasley's Wizard Whizzes is the place to be right now, you know what I mean?" asked James. The rest of them looked at him blankly.

"No," said Daisy, raising one eyebrow.

"Trust me!" said James. "Or, trust Felix!"

"OK, let's go, then," said Benjamin, and Thomas, James, and he stood up. James looked down at Daisy and shot her a reassuring and confident smile.

"Don't worry," he told her. "Oh, and by the way, Wood, you're looking good today."

Daisy shot him a look as he winked at her. Thomas dragged him away.

"WHOO!" shouted James over the noise of the other students in the common room. They all turned to stare as Thomas, Benjamin, and he crawled through the portrait hole and out of the common room.

"Five sickles that they get detention," bet Gwen.

─ ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ─

Daisy, Gwen, and Marlee had talked for an hour, went to the Great Hall for lunch, and had returned to think about outfits for the party by the time the three boys had returned. They were each lugging a bag that seemed to be double their weight. They flopped onto the couch and Benjamin let out an exhausted sigh. Thomas leaned his head back. James looked ecstatic.