"It's got what it takes. So tell me why can't this be love?" ~ Why Can't This Be Love by Van Halen.

Chapter 35: Drunken Dances

Dora's POV

She so liked him.

I was her sister and I could read her like a book. But it wasn't a sister thing: everyone can see it.

I smirked. There she was, dolled up in that tiny black dress that Kenzie forced her into, dancing around like a lunatic with Charlie. A mere two hours ago, she looked stunning: her dress showed off everything she had to offer, her eye make-up was smoky and dramatic, and her shoes were heeled and made her a hell of a lot taller. But now, two hours into Gryffindor's victory party, she was completely and utterly drunk. Her dress was askew, eye make-up running and shoes kicked off. At least she was having a good time.

A few minutes ago, I was laughing with them both, also dancing like a lunatic. But you know, I really felt like the third wheel, so I told them this and left. I didn't wait to see what their reactions were, but it wasn't hard to guess: Maggie would have blushed and Charlie would too.

Now, sitting with Ellie and Sharla, we were watching them like two wallflowers on the sidelines. We were the only Hufflepuff's invited to the Gryffindor Victory party, as we're friends with Charlie. Most of the Gryffindor's were dancing just like my sister and friends were, except for Darren and Kenzie, who were sitting on a seat, talking, Darren's eyes flickering over to Maggie every now and then. Darren claims that he likes Maggie, but I reckon that he likes Kenzie too. He's alright. I never had a problem with him like Maggie did, but I never clicked with him like I clicked with Charlie, Kenzie, Sharla and Ellie.

"Do you reckon Charlie and Maggie will do something under the influence of alcohol?" Ellie asked, turning to me, green eyes bright and slightly bloodshot with residual alcohol. This was the first night we had all gotten drunk, so it would take a bit of getting used to.

"Let's hope," I said, sighing. "I'm sick of them being in denial."

"Maybe you could set them up?" Sharla suggested. "Take matters into your own hands, you know."

"Maybe," I said thoughtfully. "Maybe we could lock them in a broom cupboard!"

"Tonks," said Ellie sternly. "You don't want to end up being an aunty at fifteen."

I laughed, nudging Ellie in the side. "Ah, I wouldn't mind. If it means that they are happy, then it's cool."

Maggie is a strange person. She can be laughing and happy, and then she'll get this look in her eyes, like a sad, nostalgic look. Then it'll be gone in a few moments. It's as though everything reminds her of her past, and although she isn't on good terms with her previous guardians, it's saddens her. We're sisters; I can see it.

When I met her, I had never felt so close to anyone before. Ugh, that sounds cliché, but you know what I mean. Although we didn't grow up together like sisters usually do, I think that we have a better relationship because of it. It's more friendship than anything, but deeper than that. She knows all my hopes, all my dreams, all my problems, and yet nothing changes how close we are. Although we're not in the same house, we always catch up. Holidays are the best, though.

She's been happier since she became closer to Mum, Dad and I. And after growing up in a miserable pureblood household, I want her to be happy. My theory is that being with Charlie will make her happier. But if he ever hurts her, I'll castrate him, no joke. That's how strongly I want her to be happy and free.

I glanced at Charlie. His hair was messy, cheeks red and a smile evident on his face. I knew why. It was because he was with Maggie. Everyone can see how big of a crush he has on her.

Except for Maggie.

Struck with a sudden idea, I started grinning. It was probably not a really nice thing to do, but whatever. Okay, Charlie's drunk. He's probably not thinking straight. If I offer him some tequila (a muggle drink that some seventh years managed to smuggle in) maybe he might... let some information slip.

"I'll be back soon," I said, grinning at my two friends before walking over to Charlie. He probably wouldn't appreciate me taking him away from his sweetie, but I just wanted to know exactly how he feels about my sister. And then I can find a way to set them up...

They'll both be pissed at me if they find out, but I'm just trying to make them happy.

"Oh, hey!" Maggie exclaimed, grinning broadly at me. Her dark eyes were bright and glittering, cheeks flushed and her stance was slightly wobbly, due to the fact that she's had too much to drink. She told me that Darren and her made a deal that they would get drunk at the party together, but that didn't really work. She's hanging out with Charlie more than Darren. Personally, I think that she and Charlie have gone a little too far on the alcohol front, but hey, they have a day off tomorrow, so hopefully it'll wear off. If Mum and Dad found out, they'd have a conniption fit. I won't be telling them.

"Hey," I replied, as she threw her arms around my neck.

"You're the best sister ever!"

Usually, when she said this, I would feel all warm inside, but at the moment she was drunk, and it didn't mean much. Still, I couldn't help but grin at her.

"You too, Maggie. Can I borrow Charlie for a while?"

Charlie butted in when he heard his name. "What about me?"

"Can you come with me?" I asked perkily. "Please?"

He glanced back at Maggie, who nodded at him. He patted her shoulder and said yes.

"Cool," I said, grinning. "Lets go."

The Astronomy Tower was extravagantly decorated for the event. Scarlet and gold streamers hung from the rafters, and each couch had been painted red and gold for the occasion. Gryffindors really went all out for their parties. Having it on the Astronomy Tower was a bloody brilliant idea, an idea which I had sadly been forbidden to tell anyone from Hufflepuff's Quidditch team. Looking around, I couldn't help but grin. Hell, they had seriously went overboard! There was a bar, the aforementioned couches, sleeping bags, music (Kiss and AC/DC, per my insistence. I'd been the one to perform the silencing charms, and choosing the music was my reward), a portable cupboard (where the hell had that come from?) so that the sixth year's could play seven minutes in heaven, a red carpet (I'm not even joking here), feather boas and a photo booth. The seventh years were known for their eccentricness, but never had I realised how much so.

Anyway, we reached the bar and I asked Charlie what he wanted.

"Something strong," he grinned. Oh, I'll get him strong.

Once it was ordered and he had downed it in one gulp (such a smart boy, that one) I faced him. His eyes were bloodshot but he looked really happy and relaxed.

"You and Maggie looked like you were having fun!" I said, not even pretending to look innocent. Charlie, however, didn't give me a dirty look like he usually did.

"Yeah, we were," he said, glancing over at her. She was now dancing with Kenzie and Darren. Charlie's expression changed into a slightly annoyed one.

"He doesn't deserve for her to like him," he sighed, sitting down on one of the couches. I fought back a grin. Finally, we were getting somewhere! I sat down next to him and asked why.

"She's... amazing," he finally murmured, eyes softening. Aw! I'm not usually one for romance, but he really, really liked her! "And I know that you're probably here to get answers out of me," he said, and I guiltily shifted. "But I'm going to tell you all this because you're my friend and I'm so pissed I won't remember telling you. But yeah, I like her. Heaps," he added. Man, this was easier than expected! And YES! I KNEW IT! Score for Tonks!

"I hadn't noticed," I said sarcastically, grinning widely. "Why?"

"I don't know," he said, looking a little depressed. "It doesn't matter anyway. She likes Darren."

"I'm her sister and I KNOW that she likes you."

He raised an eyebrow, looking skeptical. "Why would she like me?"

"Because she does," I stated simply. "And she thinks you're hot, gorgeous, cute, have nice eyes, nice biceps-"

"Are you serious?" I nodded. Crap, Maggie's gonna kill me!

"We had a bet this year, you see, that she would realise that you're hot- yes Charlie, you're hot," I repeated, as he looked skeptical again. "And she said that she realised it."

"So... she likes me too?"

"She hasn't told me, but I know she does. I'm being honest, Charlie, believe me. The only thing she has told me is that she wanted to snog you-"

"What?" he almost yelled, shocked. His eyes glittered with glee.

Crap crap crap. I really don't know when to keep my mouth shut! Maggie will kill me, raise me from the dead and murder me a hundred times over. Some sister I am.

"Er, don't tell her!" I begged, seriously stressing out now. I was going to be so dead if she found out. And I shouldn't have betrayed her trust like that! "She'd kill me. But yeah, she wanted to."

Charlie was silent for a few moments, before he looked up at me.

"I'm sorry, but she doesn't like me. She may want to snog me, and she thinks that I'm hot, so she probably is just attracted to that."

"Maybe," I said. "But don't rule it out. Not yet, anyway. I just want you both to be happy," I admitted. "So please can you just tell her how you feel!"

"I'm not going to," he said stubbornly. "And please, I don't want you getting my hopes up. I know that I'll forget this conversation in the morning, but you won't. You'll stay quiet, won't you, Dora?"

"Of course," I assured. I was going to tape my mouth together so that I stopped spilling secrets. Hell, how am I supposed to be a good friend let alone an Auror if I can't keep secrets? "Have good night."

He gave me a half-hearted smile. "You too."

I didn't believe in love.

Not in the sense that it could happen to people our age, or me, for that matter. I would never admit it, not to my mother, not to Maggie, not to anyone, but I'm afraid of love.

Love saved my mother. But it destroyed her relationships with her family. Her love for Dad sustained her, made the estrangement worth it.

Love, to me, is a clichéd word. A word that's meaning has been twisted and warped over the years, a meaning which not many people can appreciate anymore. Now, love is just a word thrown arbitrarily around, as if the fact that it means so much doesn't matter. It's only when I look at my parents can I see that their love is real.

But now, there are two other people who I can look at and not feel scared or disgusted at love.

Maggie's arms were wrapped around his neck, his hands on her waist. They were swaying to a Van Halen song (Maggie would positively murder me for playing glam rock, but she would never know) called Why Can't This Be Love. It was relevant to their situation. They were standing slightly too close to be just friends, but neither of them seemed to care, or they were too intoxicated to do so. There was a faint smile on both of their features, and I wondered what was going through Maggie's head right now. Was she thinking about how close they were? Was his touch making her skin hot, her heart flutter, her stomach erupt in butterflies, or some other clichéd romantic reaction? Was her taking note of her glittering brown eyes, her pink cheeks or how warm her hands were on his neck? Would I ever experience this? Would I ever find someone who would care for me like they did for each other? They weren't even together, yet I knew that there was nothing that they wouldn't do for each other.

It's got what it takes, so tell me why can't this be love? The speaker blared out.

It had what it took. But I knew that Maggie, like me, was scared of love. Who could blame her? She had been raised with her Aunt and Uncle, who were together because of an arranged marriage. Did that work? Did Maggie ever see displays of love and affection like I did? (Given, PDAs were pretty disgusting, but seeing that love was real could be reassuring).

If there is anyone that should be scared of love, it's her. I read a phrase, long ago. To love is to destroy. Love seems to be the be all and end all, the sole reason for living, the flame in ones soul...

Of course, these depictions are disgustingly corny, and I didn't believe in it. Despite being around my parents and their love, I didn't think I would believe in it until it happened for myself. That is, until I saw them.

They're just so... good together. Perfect is yet another word that holds no meaning, but good accurately described it. The saddest part was that they probably wouldn't remember this in the morning. They wouldn't remember swaying to a love song, touching each other, and - unbeknownst to them - expressing how they felt for the first time.

Watching them, I couldn't help but grin. Charlie seemed to be holding back, as if he was going to do more but not feeling comfortable enough. I wondered what it would be like to be her in that moment. Whether she would be scared of what love was. Or whether she was happy.

The song ended, but they continued on with their dancing.

Why, oh why couldn't it be love?