Disclaimer: If I had written Harry Potter, I wouldn't be writing fan-fiction, now would I?
It was finally Saturday. After working at The Three Broomsticks for 4 months, I sought the weekends as desperately as I used to back at Hogwarts. It's been six months since the battle, and though you'd expect everything to be different, better- it isn't. Sure, Voldemort is gone and Death Eaters are hiding, rather than innocent families and schoolchildren- but a lot of people have no place to go; their homes and jobs destroyed, their family wiped out or missing. The Ministry and the Aurors are working hard, but there is still so much that needs to be rebuilt in our World.
I was lucky Madame Rosmerta took pity and hired me as extra help; I at least have a place to live. I was one of the unlucky ones. After my mother was killed during my 6th year at Hogwarts, my father dedicated himself to the war, and as a result was killed in battle. It makes me depressed and angry that it hadn't been me instead and I have to remind myself every day that I really could have lost my life, and should be grateful to have been able to live while so many others perished.
Not wanting to spend another moment filling my head with horrible memories on my day off, I got up and went to my small bathroom. My little room at the back of the pub is old and small -from when Madame Rosmerta first started out - but I really love the place. It's the perfect place for a badger. I took a shower, thinking about what I could possibly do to keep the memories from creeping back in - I get enough memories of war from all the people who show up in the Three Broomsticks during the week. I got out of the shower, dripping water across the floor as I padded to my small wardrobe to look for something suitable to wear. As I dried myself, I thought about who I'd like to see that day. Neville. I immediately thought, and blushed, even though he wasn't even in the room. It's amazing that after eight years I still fancy the same boy – no, man- that I did when I was eleven. It's equally amazing, that after everything -the DA, the Room of Requirement, and War- I still get nervous when he talks to me. In short- there is no way that I am going to visit him. We Hufflepuffs may be unafraid of toil, but nowhere in history did it say we were unafraid of love.
Since my neurons fired, bringing Neville into all my thoughts, I figured I'd take the prudent way out and visit my friend Olivia Johnson. She'd no doubt be dying for a reason to get out of the small flat she shared with her sister, Angelina. Olivia's fancied Neville's friend and former dorm mate, Dean Thomas, since fourth year, though, as a Gryffindor, she handles her affections differently- becoming frustrated with the clueless boy, purposely 'running into him' rather than more silently pining over him, like I have with Neville. I know if I mention Neville's name at some point today, it'll catalyze Olivia into adventurous Gryffindor mode and she will find and make a way for us to 'just so happen' to end up where Neville and Dean are. She's good at tracking like that - one of the reasons, she's decided to work for the Auror office rather than become a healer like she used to want to. She was good at Defense Against the Dark Arts back at Hogwarts and adored the DA. So not too long after the war, when she received a letter from the Auror office, offering her a number of positions, she decided to take up their offer. So far, she loved it, since it paid well, and she was angry and frustrated as her family had been wiped out during the war. Olivia and I both originally wanted to be Healers, but it soon became apparent that we were simply not meant to Heal beyond Dumbledore's Army. Olivia says she loves her training in curse breaking, but I honestly think a lot of it has to do with the fact that Dean's there training as well.
After putting on some nice jeans and a sweater, I went on and Flooed Olivia. "Johnson Flat!" I yelled before sticking my head into the fire. I almost burst into laughter when my head stopped spinning. Olivia was lying flat on her back in the living room, looking like she'd recently been through the Floo Network herself. Her hair was sticking out in odd places, she was still wearing her favorite pajamas that had Niffler's digging up gold on them, and she had a dumb look on her face.
When she realized someone's head – mine – was sticking out of her fireplace she slowly turned her head in my direction and said, "Hi, Hannah." I had to blink hard so that I wouldn't laugh. "Olivia, erm, what are you doing on the floor?" This must be why Muggles use telephones.
Her voice was quiet at first, but began rising in anger as she explained, "Because my sister is a nut job!" I blinked and she was on her knees, close to the fire, whispering, "Angelina is trying to play Quidditch in the House….with ALL the balls!" My eyebrows shot up, my mouth forming an O. "I tried talking her out of it – nope, there's no stopping her, so I'm avoiding the Bludgers. Did you know those things can hear you!"
"Erm, no, why doesn't she play outside?" I said, wide eyed and seriously concerned.
"Because, like I said, she's a nut job," she was looking around, I assumed for both Bludgers and Angelina. "Did you need something?"
"I was going to ask if you wanted to go out today, it's cold, but fine. Though if this is a bad day-"
I felt bad for Olivia, her sister had been seriously scarred since the war, needing to receive some professional help to prevent depression, but it resulted in odd behavior.
"No, it's a great day! I'll come," she said, hurriedly. "I'll meet you there in ten minutes. Oh bugger, here comes another one!" and with that, she ran at lightning speed from the room. I pulled my head out of the fireplace, shaking my head, not knowing that day, starting with Olivia being chased by a Bludger in her own house, would be the day my life changed. All from a Girls' Day Out.
A/N: This story is in connection with A History of Magic in that it has the same adult characters, a sort of prequel, if you will, but it's not necessary to read the other to understand this one and vice versa. What did you think though? You know what to do, leave a review!