The Space Boy and The Red Head

25 - Drunk Dancing

Monday - 1st April 1996

George wasn't sure why but tonight he was nervous. He'd never been nervous for a party before. He must've styled his hair differently fifty times before finding something that he sort of liked. Normally on birthdays the twins would match outfits, but they had decided not to this year. That was making it very hard to choose what to wear. George eventually had asked Lee for help. Lee always had the best fashion sense in their group. After a few more minutes George was dressed and ready, but still rather nervous.

Apollo had already changed quickly in the bathroom and gone down to finish setting things up. This meant George would now have to walk in by himself as the rest of his roommates had also left already. George really didn't enjoy being alone, wanting to meet up with his friends as quick as possible he went to join the party.

It took the boy a while to find his friends. It would have been quicker if everyone hadn't stopped to wish him a happy birthday. It also would've helped if the room wasn't so dark, lights danced in time to the roaring music, turning faces into a blur around him. In fact George didn't find his friends in the crowd that night. They found him.

"Happy Birthday!" Lee cheered. The people around him joining in. Apollo leaned over to grab George, pulling him by the arm closer to the group so he could hear them better. Firewhiskey and butterbeer were being passed around, though the older students were careful not to give any to the young kids who had managed to sneak in. Fred passed a bottle over to George.

"To being 18!" Fred raised his own bottle up, leading the toast.
"To being 18!" The others echoed, draining their own bottles.

George was having a brilliant time. The few drinks he'd been having had only mildly affected him, soothing his throat which was numb from singing along so loudly, and taking the pain from his feet that hurt from dancing. Right now, he was swaying side to side to the music, belting out a rendition of "Magic Works" by The Weird Sisters beside everyone who had been on the Quidditch team. Something was missing at that moment though, he couldn't place it until his eyes swept across the room, landing on the missing piece. George broke free of his teammates and passed through the crowd. Staggering his way to his target.

"Dance with me" he said, nearly spilling Apollos drink as he grabbed him, pulling him to the middle of the room. George smiling goofily as they swayed together, in a sort of drunken waltz. Apollo wasn't sure if the boy had been slipped Gigglewater as George leaned his head on Apollo's shoulder, giggling happily to himself as they danced. It seemed none of the party guests noticed the little pecks on the cheek they kept sneaking to one another, if anyone had, they didn't say.

Eventually they had to stop dancing before their feet would give way. The party was quieting down now, the prefects leading all the younger kids back to bed. Only a few of the twins quidditch teammates and friends were left. Sitting around the fireplace, telling funny stories and slumped up against one another.

George had laid sprawled across his friends on the floor, his feet in Fred's lap, legs across Lee, and head in Apollo's lap. His friends had begun to cut him out of the conversation, noticing his attention was taken by something else. George couldn't help it though, he was too busy glancing up at the face above him. Watching how the light from the fire danced across his features, how it would light Apollos eyes from a dark hard to read colour, into a striking gold only momentarily before returning to their shadowy shade. George hadn't noticed how tired he was as he yawned, the warmth of the fire, and the relaxing feeling of Apollo raking his fingers across his scalp for the second time that day were lulling him to sleep.

"Come on Georgie, let's get you to bed" Apollo stood up. Moving gently as to not disturb the sleepy boy too much. George couldn't bring himself to protest as Apollo picked him up with ease and carried him back to their room. Having to push the door open with his foot as to not drop the Weasley boy.