Afterglow, James Potter

4, diffindo

It's a tradition in Ravenclaw House for the first Saturday of the term to be swept up in celebration.

Well, that's how it's advertised. In reality, it's a chance for fifth year students and above to get absolutely shitfaced, without being hunted down by Prefects. Fourth years and below aren't allowed, for good reason - they're often unable to properly function without drawing suspicion after too much Firewhiskey.

Admission is pretty strict, unless you're a Ravenclaw. For that reason, Penny and Hana usually go without their other pair, but it's never as fun without the whole group. That's why, this time, Clare and Tara are given the mission of smuggling enough booze into school to satisfy half of Ravenclaw House, and a few treasured guests. It's the only way to get in without being a Ravenclaw, so Clare and Tara accepted the burden easily.

Unfortunately for Penny, Clare and Tara refuse to do this alone, so they've dragged Hana and Penny along with them.

"This is ridiculous!" Hana snaps, turning in a circle anxiously.

Penny, leaning against a wall, resists the urge to cast Petrificus Totalus on her friend. "Just relax."

"I can't relax!" Hana wrings her hands. "Do you even know me?"

They're waiting besides a mirror on the fourth floor of Hogwarts, as there's a passage behind it that leads into Hogsmeade. Through that passage, Clare and Tara have snuck out to try and acquire as much Firewhiskey as they can, while Hana and Penny are supposed to be guarding the entrance. Unfortunately, Hana's about as subtle as a bright pink flag saying "I'm suspicious!"

"Seriously," Penny hisses. "This is not normal, Hana. It's just sneaking out."

"Oh, say it a little louder, why don't you?"

"Merlin's sake," Penny hisses, massaging her forehead. "It's just booze. It's not like we're smuggling in something illegal."

Hana's jaw drops. "It is illegal, Penny, for, in case you didn't notice, we're all underage. All of us. All of us."

"Tara's not," Penny pipes up helpfully. "She's eighteen."

"I can't do this. I actually can't do this. I'm going to freak out."

"Going to? I think we're well past that stage."

"We're going to get caught. Dumbledore's going to see us. He's going to sense us leaving. He's going to know - "

"Okay," Penny's had enough, so she grabs Hana's shoulders, squeezing them. "Calm down. You're going to get us caught. Just take a deep breath, yeah?"

Hana follows her instructions, inhaling, exhaling, air being blown out her mouth in a stream. "I'm sorry. It's all making me a little nervous."

Penny scoffs. "Everything makes you nervous, Han."

"Well, I can't help that," Hana mutters. "It's just the way I was made."

"Hmm," Penny considers. "Fairs, I guess. But can't you tone it down for - let's say, an hour?"

"No, I can't, actually! This is me toning it down!"

Before Penny can cast a silencing charm on her friend, Clare and Tara emerge from the tunnel, enchanted bottles of alcohol glittering behind them, floating in the air. Tara's hair is all messed up, while Clare can't stop grinning, her lipstick smudged.

Penny squints at them. "Clare, your makeup's all fucked."

Clare hastily wipes at it with her sleeve.

Hana frowns at them. "Why do you two look like you've just been - "

"Hana!" Tara snaps, tossing her curly hair. "Don't be so inappropriate."