17th July 1998

Just over two months after the Battle of Hogwarts.

The leaving feast was heartbreakingly sombre. The students hardly knew what to do with themselves; each and every student here had known suffering, loss and pain at the hand of Voldemort. But there was no more room for mourning.

The Castle had been slowly rebuilt, put back together piece by piece. Seamus' favourite place was still the bridge, he couldn't help but smile to see the plague installed into the brickwork with his own name in shimmering brass.

The raucous was growing louder as students slowly began to move out of grief and feeling the beginning of what surely had to be hope. Hope for a future they could now see, now believe in without hindrance.

Seamus turned to Dean and nudged his elbow with his own. "Watch this" he said as he wiggled his eyebrows. Silently, Seamus waved his wand with a flourish over his goblet of water, smiling eagerly as he sipped it, then passed it to Dean.

Dean watched with keen amusement, taking the goblet and giving it a sniff. His eyes immediately lit up and he cocked one eyebrow before taking a sip.

He coughed slightly "Merlin! You did it! You finally did it!"

Seamus nodded triumphantly, before passing his wand over the remaining Goblet's at the Gryffindor table (Only the students in 6th or 7th years, of course) and watched in awe as each took a sip in shock, before turning towards Seamus and giving him thumbs up or congratulating him.

Seamus took another gulp, wiggling his eyebrows again as Dean slowly took his second sip.

Dean shook his head "Mate, I'm impressed… but did you have to make the rum so strong?"

Seamus shrugged "Ah, of course you'd find something wrong with it! Just enjoy - It's a celebration no?"

Dean did as he was told, and slowly began to work through the comforting burn of the rum as it travelled through his chest.

It didn't take long before the Gryffindors were more than slightly intoxicated and becoming loud and rowdy.

The other tables were staring, wondering what had got into them.

It wasn't until Padma began dancing on the table that Headmistress McGonagall strode past. Stopping behind Seamus.

Seamus instinctively shrunk down, expecting an earful.

She spoke softly. "Nice transfiguration there, Finnigan. Thirty points to Gryffindor." She left, without saying another word with a slight smirk on her face.

Seamus watched in disbelief as she sat back up at the Professor's table, and raised her goblet to him.

Seamus smiled, and returned a nod, silently casting the spell on his Headmistresses goblet. She smiled, took a sip and continued in conversation with Professor Sprout.

Dean just shook his head in mock disgust. Seamus smirked "What? It's the least she could do for me blowing up the bridge!" Dean laughed "I'll drink to that!".

Thank you for reading my little drabble! This story is dedicated to DarkFireofAngelsSouls!
I hope you enjoyed it. I am in the process of working through an estimated 120 chapter story of a Slytherin Harry, so please keep an eye out for when it appears!
Cheers, J. XxX