Three Months Later.
Harry imagined that he could hear music thumping from within the Room of Requirement and wondered what would he would find once the heavy wooden doors finished completing themselves from the ancient stone that hid the Room from the rest of the castle. Harry patted his left pocket, feeling the weight and the heat of his D.A. coin from within his pants and considered whether Ron had been successful in his mission of convincing Aberforth Dumbledore to supply their party with an abundance of liquor and beer. "We're War veterans after all," Ron had reasoned after telling Harry his plan, and Harry hoped that Ron succeeded. It had been a long first week back at Hogwarts and he desperately needed the distraction that alcohol would give. A week of sobriety was a new record for him.
The doors finished materializing and Harry pushed into the Room, greeted by a nearly identical replica of the Gryffindor common room. A fully stocked bar sat in the far corner of the room that seemed to be spelled into serving itself, bottles of alcohol hovering in the air and pouring, albeit messily, every time an empty glass was set upon the surface of the mahogany bar top. The doors closed heavily behind him and the sound inside of the room intensified, insulated now that the room had been sealed and Harry glanced around, searching for his girlfriend amongst the students.
A heavy hand clapped down onto Harry's shoulder just as he thought he saw Ginny sitting on the arm of a chair occupied by none other than Dean Thomas, and Seamus Finnegan pulled Harry towards the bar. "Harry, my man!" he slurred and shouted over the noise of the gathering. "We've got anything you could ever want. Fire Whiskey, bourbon, vodka, and any sort of beer you've heard of. What's your poison?" Seamus slammed his empty ale glass down onto the bar top and Harry watched as the glass frosted over and a glass beer bottle emptied itself into Seamus's newly frosted glass. Harry was impressed.
"Was this your doing?" Harry asked, motioning towards the bar and grabbing a poured shot of something. He glanced at Seamus as he brought the glass to his lips and drank, welcoming the familiar burn like an old friend. Seamus laughed and shook his head, grabbing the beer from the bar. "God, no. Granger took care of this," Seamus said and drank his beer, nearly finishing the drink in two gulps. He slammed the glass down again and the process repeated itself - frost crept up the length of the glass and another beer bottle emptied itself. Harry coughed at Hermione's name and he stared at Seamus incredulously.
"Hermione did this?" Harry said, glancing over his shoulder to find his friend but Seamus was quick to shove another shot into his hand. Harry glanced down at the liquor and shrugged, throwing it back almost immediately.
"Fuckin' brilliant, in't she?" Seamus said, staggering.
"That's a word for it," Harry agreed, and reached for another shot. "Was the Ginny over there? With Dean?" Harry gulped the shot.
Seamus shrugged and shook his head. "Haven't seen 'er all day. I remember her saying that she wasn't going to make it tonight. Maybe she's gotta headache 'er something." Harry frowned at Seamus before reaching for a beer. Seamus glanced towards the entrance and watched as his friend and Ginny slipped out into the castle. He turned his gaze towards Harry and grinned. "Well, enjoy yourself, mate. We all deserve it." Harry raised an eyebrow and turned, watching Seamus as he weaved through the crowd. Harry shrugged, almost thankful that Ginny wouldn't be at the party tonight and turned, making his way towards the replica of the Gryffindor fireplace. He sank into a worn chair and glanced towards his two best friends, smirking at the look of irritation on Ron's face at the sight of a book in Hermione's hands.
"Ron. Hermione," Harry said and sipped at his beer. "I must say, that's brilliant work you've done at the bar… I've never seen a spell like it - perpetually frosted glasses. Where'd you find bartending spells?"
Ron rolled his eyes and huffed out a sigh. "Believe it or not, Harry. She created the fucking spell. Most brilliant fucking woman I've ever met in my entire life… and she's not even enjoying her own creation." Harry laughed as Hermione rolled her eyes but never raised her face from her book.
"Thank you, Harry… and Ronald, I've told you. We have so much time to make up for… I really can't waste a moment-" Hermione stopped her speech as Ron kneeled in front of her, staring at her.
"Hermione," he began, and folded a napkin, placing it in Hermione's book, marking her page. Hermione stared at Ron and Harry noticed her lips twitching, trying to fight a smile and maintain her exasperated mood. Ron brought one of Hermione's hands to his mouth and kissed her knuckles reverently, while slowly closing her book and placing it on the table next to her chair. "Dance with me, Hermione."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Ron, I did the stupid spells. I did what you asked and I didn't even want to come tonight. Go and enjoy yourself. Just leave me here and let me read."
Ron shook his head earnestly. "And you were absolutely fucking brilliant with the spells. But what's the point in creating something when you won't allow yourself to enjoy the finished product?" Ron stared up at Hermione and Harry couldn't believe it, he actually began to pout. Hermione rolled her eyes again, laughing lightly.
"Ron, really, I'm so-"
"How about this?" he interrupted. "A compromise," he said, nodding towards Harry, who lifted his glass to his friend, before turning back to Hermione. "Because we're adults and a couple, and that's what adult couples do. And because it was your brilliant talents in the arts of negotiation that got me to where I currently am. You come and dance with me. Forget that you give a damn about school for tonight and I promise you, on my soul and all that I am, that I will spend the day in the library with you tomorrow."
Hermione narrowed her eyes at her boyfriend. "All day?"
"We'll only come up for air when we need to eat and, of course, if you want to take a break for other activities…" Ron said, grin widening as Hermione's cheeks turned pink. Ron stood, and pulled gently on Hermione's hand, prompting her to rise. Hermione intertwined her fingers with Ron's and he pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Did I mention how beautiful you look tonight?" Ron said as the couple passed. Hermione reached out and squeezed Harry's shoulder with her free hand and Ron winked at him, and the two disappeared into the crowd behind the collection of chairs at the fire. Harry glanced at the book abandoned by Hermione and shuddered - Magical and Muggle Law, volume IV.
"Hello, Harry," Luna said as she sank into the chair next to his. Harry glanced at her and nodded to the rose colored drink in her hand.
"Luna. Wine? I didn't think you drank."
Luna shrugged and responded by downing the entire glass in one pull. Harry's eyebrows rose in surprise.
"A lot has changed," Luna replied and Harry noticed that the usual musicality that accented her words was absent, replaced by a heaviness that was so out of character for her that Harry frowned.
"Are you okay?" he asked and Luna turned her big, blue eyes on him.
"I'm being reckless and young," she responded dryly, and sat her empty glass on the table next to Hermione's book. Harry laughed darkly, his own sentiments mirrored in Luna's words. "Isn't that what we're supposed to do here?"
Harry shrugged and finished his own drink, relishing the warmth that spread through his body now that his belly was filled with shots of whiskey and beer. "I think the plan was that we all spend a night forgetting how fucked up we all are," he said. Luna continued to stare at him.
"I'll drink to that," she responded quietly and Harry glanced back towards her. "So, it's denial then?" Harry's eyebrows furrowed and he shrugged.
"Denial? Maybe. I just think everyone is so tired of being sad and serious… and we're back now, at Hogwarts… we're home, I guess. We're supposed to be having fun." Luna continued to watch Harry and he felt himself become uncomfortable. He broke their eye contact and looked at the fire, watching the flames consume the logs.
"That's a bunch of bullshit," Luna said. She stood and crossed in front of the fire, blocking Harry's view of the fire and forcing him to look up at her. Luna looked older somehow, more weary and worn. Something about her was different, darker, and Harry noticed that her eccentric jewelry was missing. Luna looked normal, if not sadder and perhaps even a bit angry.
"Ginny was here, by the way," Luna said. "She left with Dean while Seamus was trying to distract you at the bar. And I invited Draco Malfoy to the party. Don't be surprised if you see him here later. He looked lonely." Harry blinked stupidly at Luna and frowned as he glanced towards the door, as if he'd see Ginny and Dean slipping back in through the door.
