"I think… I think we should have another bonfire tonight." Emma said from her perch on the rail of her balcony, staring at Hermione with a cup of hot tea in her hands. She reached for the tea as Hermione handed it to her.
"Why? I thought you wanted to go out flying tonight…" Hermione said, her head cocked to the side. Emma glared at her.
"No, um, not tonight." She whispered very fast. Hermione giggled.
"Really?"
"Yes… Let's have another fire tonight, kay? Can we do that?" Emma asked quietly. Hermione stared at her best friend.
"Sure, Emma, whatever you want." She said softly, taking Emma's hand in hers. She smiled at her.
"Thank you, baby." Emma muttered, jumping down and hiding in Hermione's waiting arms. "Thank you."
Come here, please hold my hand for now, help me, I'm scared, please show me how to fight this.
Hermione wondered why she didn't want to go flying tonight, but Hermione learned that this was one of those things that you can't push. She held Emma in her arms, singing quietly in her ear. As Emma listened to Hermione sing quietly, she began to cry. She didn't let Hermione see; Emma was supposed to be the strong and tough one in their group. She always had been and always will be. She questioned herself, though. Why was she crying? She had no reason to cry. She was happy; her Hermione was home. She couldn't answer herself. She clung on to Hermione's arms and let her best friend comfort her.
I'm here hold on to me, I'm right here waiting, and take my one last breath, and don't forget that I will be right here waiting…
"Harry," Ginny started, turning around in her boyfriend's arms.
"What, Ginny?" He asked patiently.
"I love you." She smiled softly. "More than you'll ever understand." She whispered. Harry couldn't speak. So, he kissed her.
"Words will never be able to describe how much I love you." He whispered against her lips. "More than you'll ever be able to understand." He murmured. Ginny smiled widely. "I could spend forever with you in my arms, and that would never be enough." He muttered, pulling her closer to him. "I love you, Ginny Weasley."
"I love you, too, Harry Potter." She whispered contently. Harry smiled and kissed her with all he had.
"Draco…" Hermione sighed. Draco smiled.
"Yes?"
"Help me find some firewood." She whispered. Draco laughed and pulled her on his back.
"Well, that wasn't what I was expecting, but sure, I'll help you find firewood." He smiled.
"What were you expecting?"
"Nothing…" He blushed, putting Hermione on a chair. She giggled and shook her head.
"No, Draco, tell me what you were expecting." She demanded. Draco shook his head.
"Why do we need firewood? I thought we were going flying tonight." He said, picking up a stick. Hermione shook her head.
"No, I don't wanna go tonight. It's too cold." She whispered. Draco stared at her for a moment.
"Okay." There were some things you can't push, some things that you can't question, and this seemed like this was one of those things. "Do you know where the zebra lighter that Blaise had last night is?" He asked. Hermione shook her head.
"No."
"Lauren, I think Justin wants to talk to you." Emma said, walking into her room. She was braiding her long hair over her shoulder.
"Why?" Lauren asked without taking her eyes off the book.
"I dunno." Emma said, sitting on the side of Lauren's bed, taking a hair tie off of Lauren's outstretched wrist. "He looked kind of sad."
"Well, he's the one that hasn't been talking to us for the last couple of weeks." She muttered. "He's the one that got mad when Hermione came home with a really hot boyfriend on her arm. He's the one that got mad and left when things didn't go his way. He's the one that yelled and fought with Hermione. He's the one that made her cry. He's the one that's been denying the fact that Hermione doesn't want him the way he wants her. He's the one that's been fucking hiding because he's too fucking scared to apologize and admit that he was wrong. He's the one that left because he was too scared to face his goddamn fears." She said, throwing her book on the floor. "He has no fucking reason to be sad."
"I know, baby." Emma whispered, holding Lauren's hand tightly. "I know." She whispered again. "But, I think it's worth telling him that, rather than me. He's in the living room."
"Why the hell did you let him?"
"He practically forced himself in. I can go make him leave, if you'd like." Emma offered. Lauren thought about her offer. She squeezed her best friend's fingers.
"I'll go talk to him."
"Do you want me to come with you?" Emma asked sweetly. Lauren shook her head slowly.
"No, Emma, this is something I need to do on my own." She whispered. Emma nodded in understanding and sat at the top of the stairs, hugging her knees and bracing herself for the fight that was bound to break out.
Justin stood up as Lauren slowly descended the staircase. He smiled at her. She glared back. When she reached him, she stood in front of him with her arms crossed.
"What?" She snapped, avoiding his eyes. Justin looked down. "You don't wanna talk? Okay, that's fine. But, here, let me tell you everything that I'm sure you're going to apologize for." He voice was growing steadily louder.
"You were livid when you found out that we all loved Draco and that he made Hermione happy. You argued with her constantly, telling her that he didn't love her and that he was using her. When she asked you why the hell you weren't happy for her when she's been so happy for you when you had all your slutty girlfriends with you, you snapped at her and told her it was different. How the hell is it different, Justin? You know damn well that you used them to make her jealous. Take the hint: Draco's not here to make you jealous! It's been years, Justin, years! You never got the damn hint, did you? She doesn't like you like that! She never fell in love with you after all of your stupid ass plans.
"You ran and hid when you finally actually figured it out that Draco really did love Hermione and that he would go to the ends of the earth for her. That's what you do, Justin. You run and hide when things don't go your way or when things get too fucking complicated for you. When you get scared? Oh, you disappear, because it's too much for you to handle. You're so weak. You could never face your fears, could you? You're too scared to do that, aren't you?
"You fought with her, Justin. So many times. And after her mother died. Do you really think that was right? That was low. You made her cry. You made her hate you. If you really love her, then why can't you accept that she's happy? Why can't you accept that she finally found someone that makes her happy? Why can't you just let her be happy? That's not too hard. We're not asking you to do much, Justin! Just let Hermione be happy and let Draco love her without any arguments from you!" Lauren was screaming and by the time she was done, her voice was scratchy and she was out of breath. Justin was staring at her with wide eyes.
"So, why the fuck are you apologizing to me? Go apologize to Hermione!" She yelled.
"I'm not here to apologize to you, Lori." He whispered. "I'm not here for you to blow up on me. I'm not here for you to point out everything that I've fucked up on during the last couple of months. I'm not here for any of that shit that I knew you were going to say." He said. "I'm not here for any of that. You wouldn't even let me speak before you exploded on me."
Lauren stared at him for a moment, still trying to catch her breath. Then she shook her head.
"I don't care, Justin. That's all I have to say to you. Go tell Hermione you're sorry. That's all she's really asking for. That's all I'm asking for. Go apologize to her. Don't give her some shitty shallow 'I'm sorry', actually tell her why you're sorry." She said. Justin stood there, staring at her.
"I don't wanna look at you, Justin. Go. Do what I told you to. No, I want you to apologize to Draco, too. He doesn't deserve the way you treated him."
"THE WAY I TREATED HIM? What about the way he treated me?"
" 'The way he treated you'? Um, no. He may not like you, but he was never mean to you. Like you were to him." Lauren was flaring up again. She took a deep breath.
"Just go, Justin. I don't wanna even look at you anymore. Just leave." She said, shoving him out of the front door.
Emma came running down the stairs, pulling her sister into her arms.
"I'm sorry, baby." She whispered, stroking her hair as she cried on her lap. "I know."
"I hope Hermione curses him." Lauren whispered.
"I know, Lauren. I do, too." Emma said softly, trying to silence her sobs.
"I hope she curses him."
"Harry?" Ginny whispered, turning around the corner. She saw her boyfriend immersed in a book. He reads? She thought, looking extremely surprised. He didn't answer; he seemed to be too far into his book to notice Ginny. She giggled quietly. Ginny tiptoed around the couch, watching him turn a page. She quietly walked up behind him and tried to read some of the words on the paper. Finding that they were too small, Ginny jumped on him.
Harry screamed. Ginny giggled as she fell in his lap.
"What are you doing?" He asked, staring at the blushing and laughing girl in his lap. Ginny giggled. He threw the book on the couch nearby, trying very hard not to hit his girlfriend in her head.
"I didn't know you could read!" She said with wide eyes. Harry sighed.
"Well, I do hang out with Hermione a lot." He explained simply before Ginny pushed down on his chest and they both fell down to the carpet with a loud thump. Harry laughed and pulled her closer and kissed her fingertips. She tried desperately to make her feet touch his, but she was simply too short. She pouted.
"You're absolutely crazy." He muttered. "You know that right?"
Ginny shrugged as she put her head down on Harry's chest, listening to his strong heart beating under his dark grey t-shirt. Ginny smiled as Harry played with the fabric on her dress.
"I s'pose. But, you wouldn't love me if I wasn't, now would you?" She said happily as she played with the collar of his shirt. Harry smiled.
"I dunno, sometimes I wonder what it'd be like to have a normal girlfriend…" His smile quickly turned into a smirk. Ginny sighed.
"Sometimes I wonder what it'd be like to have a normal boyfriend." She smiled. "But we don't always get what we want, do we, baby?" She said quietly. Harry laughed.
"I guess not." Harry said, still laughing. Ginny rolled her eyes. "But, Gin, having a normal boyfriend would be incredibly boring. And, plus, look who you're dating!" Harry said, pointing to himself. "The Boy-Who-Lived!" He exclaimed. Ginny smirked.
"More like the Boy-Who-Wouldn't-Die." She said. Harry rolled his eyes.
"You hang out with Drake too much." He said. Ginny shook her head.
"Nah, I got that one all by myself!" She said, looking highly offended. They both knew she was joking and it took all Harry had to not burst out laughing. It seemed Ginny was having the same problem. Harry poked her nose.
"Did you really?" He asked. Ginny nodded.
"Yes!" She exclaimed, looking up at him. Harry merely smiled at her.
"Okay, okay." He whispered. Ginny smiled happily and put her head back down on his chest. Harry combed his fingers through her long hair.
"I love you." He whispered. He felt Ginny smile against his chest.
"I love you, too, baby."
"Emma!" Hermione called, holding Lauren and Ginny's hand. Draco and Josh were trailing behind them. Fred, George, and Blaise were already in the backyard of Lauren's house, starting the fire. Emma appeared from behind the kitchen, her fingers moving quickly as she braided her hair over her left shoulder.
"One sec! I'm getting the marshmallows!" And with that, she threw a large bag of marshmallows at Lauren. Then a box came flying at Hermione. She caught it and threw it back to Draco. Then a large package of chocolate came flying out at them. Josh caught it with ease right before Emma came running out at them, pulling an oversized hoodie over her head. She jumped on Josh's back and they were off to Lauren's house. They could already hear the fire crackling.
"Fred!" Ginny yelled when they came in sight of the fire. Fred was doing a war dance around the edges and screaming war chants.
"Yes, little sister?" He said, stopping in front of George, who attempted to push him in the fire.
"What in the name of Merlin are you doing?" She yelled, throwing a marshmallow at him. He caught it with ease and threw it into his mouth.
"I'm dancing, of course." He said simply, continuing his war dance. George joined him this time, and Blaise was watching in amusement.
Emma sat down next to Blaise, pulling Hermione down with her. Lauren sat at Emma's feet, who immediately begun braiding her long hair. Draco sat next to Hermione, wrapping his arm around her waist. She giggled.
"Where are Harry and Ron?" Emma asked, looking around. Blaise smiled at her.
"They're looking for sticks so we can roast marshmallows." He said, breaking of a piece of chocolate and popping it into his mouth. Emma nodded in understanding. Ginny sat next to Draco, searching around the edges of the trees, looking for her brother and boyfriend.
"So, did anyone bring the Firewhisky?" Draco suddenly asked, smiling widely. Blaise returned his smile and reached behind him.
"I did!" He grinned. Lauren reached for it eagerly. Hermione slipped her shoes off and crossed her legs. Draco smiled at her. Lauren brought the bottle to her lips.
"I only drink this much around you." Hermione said when Lauren handed her the bottle. Ginny smirked.
"Oh please. What about that night in the common room?" She said, taking the bottle. Hermione didn't say anything.
"Exactly." Ginny smirked again. "Harry!" She jumped up when she saw him emerge from the forest with a handful of sticks. She jumped into his arms.
"Well, hello there!" He said happily as she moved to his back. Ron laughed and handed sticks out to everyone.
"Truth or dare again?" Fred asked. His eyes lit up. Ginny laughed.
"Sure." Fred's eyes searched the group.
"Emma, truth or dare?" He smirked. Emma laughed.
"Truth." She said, taking a swig of the beer that Josh handed her. Fred stared at her.
"Will you go out with me?" He asked, smiling widely. Emma blushed. Ginny and Hermione giggled.
"Um, what?" Emma asked, handing Blaise the beer. Lauren laughed.
"That means yes, Freddie." She smirked. Fred smiled and took a swig of the beer that him and George were sharing.
"Truth or dare, Hermione?" Blaise asked. Hermione beamed.
"Er, I think imma go with truth first." She said, turning to face him.
"Oh, you're no fun." He pouted. "Alright, fine. What was your first reaction when you found out you were married to Drake?"
"WHAT?" Justin came out from behind the fence. "YOU MARRIED HIM?"
Everyone went quiet as the bottle of beer fell to the ground and shattered to pieces.