* ~ The Eighth Year Universe Series ~ *
PART FIVE
Blame it on Hate
And I Would Like to Thank You
The chapter title is from the song:
Thank You by Dido.
Astoria and Amber were the last to arrive on Wednesday evening. This wasn't because they were late – it was because Daphne had told everyone else to come at 7.30 pm, so she had time to fill them in on Astoria's affliction and her special friend who helped her through it. Of course, Lilly had already known, but Hermione, Sadie, and Susan had required some filling in on the subject.
When Astoria and her new friend arrived, they did so via the front door, leading Daphne to assume that Astoria had side-apparated them there. Daphne didn't know what to expect of Amber; all she knew was that she was Astoria's friend, so she imagined that she was reasonably respectable, maybe a blonde. She thought she might be tall and business-like.
So Daphne got a real shock when she saw Amber. She wasn't tall; she was short, not much taller than Lilly. Like Lilly, she had red hair, but Daphne would describe Lilly's hair as auburn, a dark brown with a red tinge. Amber's hair was really red though, the same colour as the deep lipstick she wore. Her eyes, not dissimilarly to Lilly's, were big and dark blue. The similarities to Lilly were remarkable, and Daphne knew she wasn't the only one who had noticed.
She was sitting next to Lilly when Astoria and Amber walked in, and she heard a surprised humph from her best friend. Daphne got to her feet, murmuring to Lilly.
"Maybe that's why she doesn't like you. Maybe she fancies you."
Lilly let out a small chuckle at that but didn't comment any further.
Daphne walked over to them and smiled warmly. Amber was wearing skinny jeans, high heeled boots and a short-sleeved, low-cut t-shirt. Tattoos covered her arms, and Daphne could see more beneath the hem of her t-shirt.
"Nice to meet you, Amber," Daphne said, and she meant it.
"You too, Daphne," Amber said, and even her accent matched Lilly's – it was that rough, East-end of London accent that Lilly had somewhat managed to shake throughout her years at Hogwarts and as the wife of Earl Longbottom.
Daphne bit back a grin and hugged Astoria, murmuring in her sister's ear.
"It seems our tastes aren't that different after all, Tori."
Astoria pulled back from the hug and shot Daphne a long-suffering look.
"What are you drinking?" Daphne asked.
"Wine," Astoria answered, "And whiskey for you, I presume, Amber?"
Amber nodded, "Firewhiskey, if you don't mind. I only get to drink it when I'm in wizarding houses, and this one is amazing, by the way."
Daphne chuckled and sorted the drinks out.
"You're a squib, Tori said?"
"Yep," Amber replied, smiling gratefully when Daphne handed her the drink.
"Well, meet the gang," Daphne said, motioning to the group of women, "I don't know how much Astoria has told you about everyone, but I'll fill in the gaps if you need me to. This is Lilly-"
Amber smiled, "Yes, I've definitely heard of you. The hot Muggle-born that Astoria's sister is sleeping with, right?"
Lilly grinned at Astoria, "That's how you described me?"
"That is definitely not how I described you," Astoria said, sitting down in an armchair and crossing her legs.
Amber sat down next to Lilly and said, "That's exactly how she described you."
"And here was me thinking we didn't like each other, Astoria," Lilly teased.
"I'm more irritated about the fact you described her as that rather than as my best friend," Daphne pointed out, "You make it sound like we're the Black-Notts. We're just friends."
"Do you seriously double-barrel our surnames when you talk about us?" Hermione asked in disbelief.
"Yes," Daphne, Lilly and Astoria echoed.
Sadie raised an eyebrow at Daphne.
"I mean, I know we are pretty much in a four-way, so I can't really argue with that, but you and Lilly aren't just friends."
"We are just friends unless it's a special occasion or Daphne's really drunk," Lilly compromised.
Daphne looked grudging, but she rolled her eyes.
"Okay, I'll accept that."
Amber chuckled and looked at Hermione and Sadie.
"So you're the two girls whose husbands are sleeping with each other?"
Hermione looked at Astoria in disbelief.
"Really?"
"What? They are, aren't they?"
"No, they aren't," Sadie said irritably, "And you know that, so stop gossiping, you pain in the arse."
Only Sadie, who had known Astoria for as long as she had known Daphne, could get away with saying that and not being cursed.
Susan snorted in amusement.
"You probably won't have heard of me, Amber. Astoria and I aren't that close. I'm Susan."
"You're right. I haven't heard of you, sorry," Amber said.
"I'm fine with that after what Astoria told you about that lot," Susan said, an amused grin still on her face.
Daphne shook her head, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Amber is Astoria's sponsor. From what I gather, she's also her familiar, but Astoria and Charlie are going to try and make things work, so make of that what you will."
"I suppose I deserved that," Astoria admitted.
"Yeah, hun, you did," Amber said matter of factly.
Daphne smirked, "Have you met Charlie yet, Amber?"
"I have," Amber said, "We've seen each other a couple of times over the last few days. I'm sure we can make something of the situation. He's a nice guy. And Astoria and I have never been exclusive. It's always been obvious that she was pining for her ex."
Astoria shot Amber a knowing look, and Daphne snorted.
"Wow, you've gone there already."
"How could you possibly know that?" Sadie asked in disbelief.
"Body language," Daphne and Lilly answered in unison.
Astoria rolled her eyes, "That is really none of your concern, Daphne."
"No, but you just confirmed it was true," Daphne said with a chuckle, "Well, would you look at that? Susie – Susan Bones – you are the only one in this friend group in a normal relationship."
"With Percy Weasley at that," Hermione added.
"Where the fuck did it all go wrong?" Susan joked, making the others laugh.
Lilly chuckled and glanced at Amber.
"So you're from the East End too?"
Amber nodded, "Yep, Hackney. Where are you from?"
"Poplar," Lilly replied.
"You've lost a lot of the accent," Amber pointed out.
"Years of being surrounded by posh Purebloods," Lilly said with a shrug, "Harry and I slip into our old accents sometimes, just to wind up Daphne and Neville."
"Harry," Amber said, "Harry Potter, right? Isn't he from Godric's Hollow?"
"He is, but his Muggle family raised him in Surrey," Lilly said, and Amber's comment didn't seem too strange to her at that point, but later on, she realised the significance of it.
"Ah, of course," Amber nodded, "What do all of you guys do for jobs then?"
"I'm a Trauma Healer, Daph is a Curse Breaker," Lilly began, "Hermione is a lawyer, Sadie is an editor and writer, and Susan is a juror. What about you?"
"I'm a primary school teacher," Amber replied with a smile, "Trying to bring the standard up in the East End, you know?"
Lilly chuckled, "Wouldn't be hard, would it? I remember having a teacher who smelled of beer all the time and fell asleep at her desk."
Amber laughed out loud.
"I had one who spent more time on the phone, yelling at her boyfriend than she did teaching the class."
While the two girls talked about their shared experience of muggle primary school in London, Daphne paused behind her sister's chair.
"Nice to see them getting along, isn't it?"
Astoria resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
"Uh-huh."
"It's probably because they have so much in common," Daphne said slyly.
Astoria looked up at her sister and smirked.
"Don't worry, Daphne; I don't have a thing for your girlfriend. She's far too highly-strung for me."
Daphne laughed out loud at that and hugged her sister.
"Good to have you back, Tori," she said, kissing her on the cheek.
While the woman had drinks upstairs, the men had been playing poker in the basement. The level of laughter, and some cackling, had been rather alarming, so Harry, being the nosy git that he was, decided to take a detour on his way back from the bathroom. He walked into a broom cupboard and pushed a panel at the back of it, opening up a secret staircase to the laird's lug - the spot he could use to eavesdrop on the girls as they gossiped in the drawing-room.
Daphne's voice was the first heard, but he couldn't see any of them from where he was kneeling in the cold, stone passageway.
"I mean, I thought it was good at the time, but now I realise it was pretty amateur, but we were 15, so what more can you expect?"
"So you lost your virginity at 15 to the guy Hermione is now married to?" That voice must have been Amber's because Harry didn't recognise it.
"It sounds complicated, but yes," Daphne answered.
"You think that's complicated?" Susan asked, "Hermione lost her virginity at 17 to the guy that Daphne is now married to."
A snort sounded then, "Have all of you slept with each other's other halves?"
Susan sniggered, "Well, I lost my virginity to the guy Sadie's married to now, so…."
"No offence Sadie but I think a lot of girls lost their virginity to your husband," Daphne teased.
"Yeah, me included," Sadie said, joking at her own expense.
"So I'm the odd one out here?" Lilly's voice chipped in, "I lost my virginity to an arsehole called Michael, and that's all I'll say about that."
Astoria laughed, "Yeah, mine wasn't great either. That was back when I was dating Dennis."
"He's an Auror now, works in CPS with Rob and Shep," Daphne said conversationally.
"Good for him," Astoria remarked dryly, "I really couldn't care less."
"Oh, come on, he was your first love, don't be like that," Daphne said.
"He wasn't my first love; he was my first boyfriend," Astoria corrected, "Charlie was my first love."
"Aw!" Daphne teased, "How sweet."
"Shut up, or I will hex you."
Harry had to bite back an amused laugh at that comment from Astoria. Sometimes they were the best of friends, and sometimes it was evident that they were sisters with a close age gap between them.
"What about you, Amber?" Lilly asked, "Any awkward first-time stories?"
"Not really," Amber said, "It was with my boyfriend at the time in the flat I grew up in. He did turn out to be a drug dealer though so there's that."
"Classy," Astoria said, and Harry could hear the humour in her voice.
"I think all of us probably did it at Hogwarts for the first time," Astoria mused.
"Speak for yourself," Daphne said, "I wish it had been Hogwarts; it's a damn sight better than where it did happen."
"Oh yes, the summerhouse in the grounds of Malfoy Manor," Astoria teased.
"Thank Merlin that place got sold," Hermione muttered.
"Yes, it's an orphanage now, which is so much better," Sadie teased.
"Oh shut up, Sade," Daphne cut in, but Harry could tell her heart wasn't in it.
"Mine is just as bad. It's the cliché behind greenhouse three," Susan admitted.
"I'm with you on cliché's," Lilly said, "Astronomy tower."
"Typical Ravenclaws," Hermione joked.
"Oh, coming from you? Dirty old tent in the middle of the war, right?" Lilly said.
"Yes," Hermione agreed grudgingly, "Not the most romantic, that's for sure."
Astoria chuckled, "Mine isn't much better; it was an abandoned classroom in one of the old towers."
"Wow, Astoria Greengrass," Daphne tutted, "I thought you had more class than that."
Sadie laughed and said, "You think I have class too, and mine was a broom cupboard."
"What is it with Theo and public places?" Susan asked, making the other girls laugh loudly.
Harry shook his head in amusement at the hilarity of it all.
Amber laughed and said, "So, you all had sex all over your school?"
"Basically, yeah," Lilly agreed, "But hey, that's boarding school for you."
Harry had to fight another chuckle, so he decided to duck out before his presence was revealed and his wife kicked his arse.
On Thursday evening, despite almost everyone questioning why Daphne had invited them to Thanksgiving and stating that they would categorically not come – they all did.
Daphne had been right; it was what they all needed. The kids all played together in the play area that Harry had created in the corner of the drawing-room, and the adults had drinks, made small-talk and unwound. Astoria did come, despite her protestations, and on top of that, she brought Charlie and Amber. The two redheads seemed to get on like a house on fire.
"You have a type," Harry commented, nudging Astoria in the ribs, "Redheads, rough around the edges, bit of a dirty accent."
Astoria chuckled and sipped her wine.
"You have a type – classy, blonde, smart."
"Daphne Greengrass is my type," Harry said with a grin, "She set the bar way back in sixth year, and now I get to call her my wife."
"Merlin Harry, you are sappy," Astoria muttered.
Harry shrugged, "How are you doing?"
"Fine," Astoria answered honestly.
"Yeah? You're not just saying that?"
Astoria shot him an irritated look.
"I am fine. Between Amber and Charlie, I'll stay on the straight and narrow."
Harry bit his lip to stop himself from commenting on her being 'between' Charlie and Amber.
Astoria noticed and punched him in the arm.
"Ouch! What was that for?"
"Get better at Occlumency," Astoria said, prodding his scar hard and walking away from him.
"Did you just get verbally bitch-slapped by your sister-in-law?"
Harry scoffed at Neville's voice.
"No."
"No? Cause that's exactly what that looked like," Neville joked.
Harry rolled his eyes, "You need your eyes tested, Nev."
Neville shook his head in amusement.
"Daphne said to tell you food will be ready soon, so we've been tasked with rounding up the kids."
Between them, they did so, and then they all headed into the dining room for a beautiful, three-course meal. When it was over, and Harry thought he might burst, Daphne announced it was time for a game or two. The first one involved them writing something that they were thankful for on a piece of parchment then shoving all the pieces into a jar in the middle of the table.
They all played along, even if some of them did so grudgingly. Once they had all put their pieces of parchment into the jar, Daphne mixed it with a spell and said, "We'll pass it around the table, take out a piece of parchment and see if we can work out whose it is. If you get your own, put it back in and take another."
Astoria rolled her eyes, "Get on with it then."
Daphne made a face at her sister and pulled a piece of parchment out of the jar.
"My Healer."
"That's got to be Nev," Draco said, looking at the Gryffindor, "You with your back and all."
"Oi – I'm the one who actually died this year," Theo cut in.
"You didn't actually die, we just thought you were dead," Daphne corrected him, "But you make a valid point. I actually know who it is from the handwriting, so I'm going to keep my mouth shut."
Theo snorted, "If you know who it is from the handwriting, then it must be someone whose handwriting you know well."
"That doesn't narrow it down, dumbass," Harry said in amusement, "She's seen your writing, Draco's and Sadie's all in class and from studying. She knows Hermione's writing because they were library buddies; she knows my writing, Neville's and Lilly's. Not to mention her own sisters. The only people who that rules out are Amber and Charlie."
"I'll file a report tomorrow," Theo huffed, "Unacceptable, the Head Auror calling me a dumbass."
Harry threw a napkin at his head.
"We're off-duty, so I'm not the Head Auror. I'm just the idiot who decided to be your mate."
Daphne chuckled at the exchange.
"So you're all guessing Neville then?"
Neville shook his head, "No, it's Lilly."
Daphne's smile gave it away.
"Lilly," Harry frowned, "What do you mean by that?"
Lilly rolled her eyes, "You really are the most clueless man I've ever met. We aren't allowed to write names, so I had to be inventive, didn't I? It's thanks to you that I'm having these twins. It's thanks to you that Neville isn't paralysed."
Harry's cheeks flushed, and he smiled.
"You don't have to thank me for that, I told you-"
"It's Thanksgiving. Just shut up and accept the thanks," Neville advised, patting Harry on the back.
"Even if we're not American," Draco drawled. From the grunt of pain that followed, Harry guessed that Hermione or Sadie had kicked him under the table.
Harry promptly shut up and was handed the jar of parchment slips. He reached inside, pulled one out and read out loud.
"My best friend. I also recognise the handwriting, so I won't guess."
"Well, if you recognise the handwriting, that must mean-"
Hermione clapped her hand over Theo's mouth.
"Don't start that again."
Theo mumbled something against Hermione's hand, but she didn't move it. Then she let out a yelp and let go abruptly.
"Did you just bite me?"
"Theo!" Sadie exclaimed, smacking him around the head, "You can't just bite people!"
"Yeah, Theo, we tell the kids off for that," Draco joined in.
Hermione wiped her hand on a napkin and shot him a dirty look.
"You're a beast."
"Save the biting for the bedroom, Theo," Charlie agreed, earning snorts and sniggers of amusement from around the table.
"Come on, I'm going to have to put a timer on this if you keep messing around," Harry said, clapping his hands and glancing over at the kids who were all happily colouring at a smaller table.
"Right, well, there are lots of people who could be grateful for their best friend," Neville said pragmatically, "I mean, I am."
"The fact you said that proves it's not you," Theo said with a grin, "Could be Draco. He's been really thankful for me this year."
Draco shot Theo a long-suffering look.
"Thankful bordering on needy," Theo continued.
"Do you want me to hex you?" Draco asked dryly.
"It's not Draco then," Lilly chuckled, "Could be Daphne. I am the world's greatest best friend, after all."
Neville looked at her and nodded.
"Yes, it's Daphne. Think about it. She's not going to be grateful for Harry this year, is she? He's been a complete and utter dick."
"Wow, thanks Neville," Harry said as the others snickered, "Feeling the love there, man."
"He has a point though," Astoria said, "You nearly split up twice this year. That's quite some achievement."
"Seriously?" Harry cut in, "You actually split up with Charlie, then you hooked up with your hot vampire-fetish girlfriend, and now you're back together. You do not get to be judgy about Daphne and I's marital problems."
"Woah, I do not have a vampire fetish," Amber cut in, "And I'm not even her girlfriend. I'm just her sponsor."
"Blood bag," Theo coughed.
Astoria looked at Theo furiously.
"I can literally kill you now. You realise that, don't you?"
Theo paled, "Uh, I have a bad cough, sorry?"
Astoria shook her head irritably.
"Okay, shall we just get our facts straight here? Charlie and I are trying to make things work, and Amber is my girlfriend."
"Am I?"
"Yes, you are," Astoria said firmly, "Like it or not, you are. Call it what you want, I don't care but keep it out of the press or Greengrass Industries will sue you."
Daphne smirked, "There's the Astoria that we all know and love. She's been in the house for three hours, and she's already threatening us with lawsuits."
"Good to have you back, darling," Lilly agreed, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
Astoria couldn't hide the amused look that crossed her face.
"Be quiet, Lilly."
Daphne looked down to hide her grin, but Lilly noticed.
Harry decided to break the tension by saying.
"On that note, this is Daphne's."
Theo opened his mouth, and this time Sadie clapped her hand over it to stop him from saying something stupid.
"Don't say it."
Theo mumbled against her hand, and Sadie rolled her eyes, "I said, don't say it!"
"You understood that?" Lilly asked in disbelief.
Draco shot Lilly an amused look.
"This is how Theo talks 90% of the time at home. He said, 'I bet she's thankful for Lilly', and although you can't make out the suggestive tone through the mumbling, I could make it out in his head."
Sadie let go of Theo.
"Stop reading my mind!"
"Stop projecting so much then!"
Harry shook his head in amusement and passed the jar down to Neville. He took one out hastily, hoping it wouldn't cause the same level of discontent that the last one had.
"The best friend I could ask for."
Daphne laughed, "So someone had the same thought as me."
"Same spidery writing as you too," Neville mused.
"Draco," The occupants of the table chorused.
"What?" Draco objected in disbelief, "How did you get it so quickly?"
"Because you're the only bloke I know with spidery writing," Theo said, craning his hand to look at the slip, "It's cute, though."
Draco rolled his eyes, "You don't deserve it, you arse."
Theo grinned for show but moved a little closer and murmured.
"Yeah, I love you too."
Draco gave him that long-suffering look and sighed, but it didn't break Theo's resolve. Neville handed the jar to Lilly, who reached inside and pulled out a piece of parchment.
"My family."
"Jeez, that could be anyone," Harry said, "We all have families, and I think after this year, we're all thankful for them."
"Yeah, but who would say family instead of husband or wife?" Daphne pointed out.
"Someone who loves their whole family…but we've already had Draco, and I don't think it's Theo," Sadie said, her eyes scanning the occupants at the table, "I think it's Hermione."
Hermione smiled at her friend.
"You're right."
"Aw Princess," Theo said, putting his arm around her, "We love you too."
Hermione shot him a playful glare.
"As we're not American and this holiday is not sacred to us, I am not beyond hexing you, Theodore."
Theo removed his arm but shot her a grin and mouthed, 'Sorry'. Hermione, despite herself, smiled slightly at the exchange.
Lilly chuckled and handed the jar to Astoria. The dark-haired girl pulled out a piece of parchment and read.
"New friends."
"Well, from the stupid smile on your face, I'm going to guess that's your girlfriends," Daphne said instantly.
"Did you just use Legilimency?" Astoria asked sharply.
"Would I?" Daphne asked sweetly.
Harry snorted, "Yes, you would. But in this case, I don't think you needed to."
"What my husband said," Daphne said, smiling genuinely at her sister, "It was obviously Amber or Charlie from the look on your face, and we're hardly new friends to Charlie, are we?"
"Fair enough," Astoria huffed, passing the jar to Amber.
The squib girl seemed to enjoy this game more than the others; she eagerly reached into the jar and pulled out a thanks.
"My health."
"Neville," Harry said straight away.
Neville rolled his eyes, "You're not meant to just shout it out. It ruins the suspense."
"Oh, come on, it's obviously you. I know Theo is probably happy for his health too, but it was different for you," Harry said, his tone softer than usual, "You nearly lost your mobility. Of course you would be thankful for your health."
"He's right," Neville said with a small shrug, "Even if he is ruining the game."
"You just shrugged!" Lilly said excitedly.
Neville looked up, "What?"
"You did," Daphne agreed, "You shrugged. I haven't seen you do that since the accident."
"Neither have I," Lilly remarked.
"It's the little victories," Harry said, smiling proudly at Neville, "And you're doing bloody great."
Neville smiled sheepishly; he felt uncomfortable the moment he was the centre of attention. Amber had passed the jar to Charlie, so he pulled a piece of parchment out to take the attention away from Neville.
"Getting back to my family."
Sadie smiled radiantly at her husband.
"That must be yours."
Theo returned the smile.
"It is mine. What could I be more thankful for than that?"
Sadie took his hand under the table, and Draco smiled ruefully at his best friend. Hermione kissed him on the cheek.
"We're all just as thankful that you came back, even if you can be a right pain in the arse sometimes."
A ripple of laughter went around the table, but the tender moment had still been sweet to see. Charlie shot Astoria a smile and handed the jar to Draco. The blonde boy pulled a piece of parchment out and read.
"Getting my husband back."
"Well, we know you love him, Draco, but your husband? Really?" Harry joked.
Draco kicked him under the table, and Harry grinned while their friends laughed.
Hermione laughed too, "It's Sadie's, and I think it's lovely that what those two are most thankful for amongst all of the terrible things that have happened this year is each other."
Theo smiled and gently kissed his wife.
"Thanks, love," he murmured.
"Always," Sadie whispered back.
Draco smiled at his two friends and handed the jar to Hermione. There weren't many slips left now.
"My sister."
Lilly chuckled, "Well, it can only be Harry, Astoria or Charlie. No offence Charlie, but I doubt you're that thankful for Ginny."
"None taken," Charlie chuckled.
Astoria smiled, "Yes, it's mine."
Daphne looked at her in surprise.
"Not getting Charlie back? Or Amber?"
Astoria shook her head, "I wouldn't have Charlie back if it weren't for you. I wouldn't have had the nerve to ask Amber to be my girlfriend, to travel with me, if not for you. All of the other good things happened because you pushed me, and I needed that, Daph."
Daphne swallowed and looked a little tearful.
"Even after all of the arguments we've had this year?"
"We always argue, Daph," Astoria said warmly, "That's nothing new, but you're my sister, and I love you. I know I don't tell you that enough."
Daphne's smile lit up the room, "I love you too, Tori."
Harry smiled at the fond moment between the sisters as Astoria passed the jar to Theo. He picked one out and laughed.
"My big brother. It's obvious who that is, isn't it? Harry's not got a brother."
"Yes, he does," Lilly said matter of factly, "And he is older."
"By a day," Neville chuckled.
"Still older," Daphne said, smiling at the former Gryffindor.
"I still think it's Charlie," Theo said, looking over the redheaded man, "Bill kept him on the straight and narrow while Astoria was off figuring out her bloodlust after all."
"Theo!" Hermione exclaimed. She kicked him under the table, and Sadie smacked him in the arm at the same time.
"Ouch!" Theo grimaced, "I hate being sandwiched between you two!"
Draco shot him a suggestive look, and Harry made a face.
"That's enough about that. Charlie, is that one yours?"
Charlie laughed and nodded.
"Yeah, Bill's my rock."
"Which means the last thanks is yours, Harry," Sadie said as she reached into the jar. She smiled when she read was what written on the parchment.
"My wife."
Daphne caught Harry's eye across the table, and they shared a fond smile.
"Right!" Theo said, "This is getting too emotional for my teaspoon to handle. I'm overflowing right now."
"What's your name, Ron?" Harry retorted.
Theo choked, "I think that's the worse thing anyone has ever said to me."
"Oh shut up, you and Ron are friends," Hermione said offhandedly, "You bonded over both being fathers of twins."
"That's not the point," Theo objected, "He's still Ron Weasley, the bloody King of Gryffindor."
"There's a conundrum for you," Draco mused, "If he was the King and you were the Princess, Hermione. Who was the Queen?"
"Uh, hello?" Lilly said, pointing at Harry, "Have you met this drama queen?"
At this, the table erupted in laughter.
Later that evening, the kids went to bed or home to elves or babysitters. And for the most part, the drinks got flowing. Harry found himself sitting on a large cuddle chair with his around Lilly, chiefly because they were the only two amongst them who were not drinking, so they were doing so in solidarity.
At some stage, Daphne pulled out an old copy of a game called, "Confessions" and Astoria laughed, saying she remembered playing it as children when they were far too young to understand it. It was essentially a card game designed to get the conversation flowing and to share funny stories. Each card began with a sentence, and the person whose turn it was had to complete it.
"You go first then, Daph," Hermione said, "It is your idea after all."
Daphne pulled a card out and laughed.
"My guilty pleasure is…" she shot her best friend an apologetic look, "Lilly."
Harry snorted, "Yep, that's hardly news. Is that news to anyone in this room?"
They all shook their heads.
Amber said, "I've only met you twice, and even I could have guessed that."
"For that, you can go next," Daphne said, levitating a card towards the squib girl.
Amber caught it deftly and grinned at the card.
"I still feel terrible about…" she paused to think about it, "Punching my dad when he told me about how he met my Mum."
Lilly snorted, "You punched your Dad?"
Amber grimaced, "Yeah, not my best moment. But I was 14 when I found out the truth about how he met my mum."
Draco frowned, "The truth? What did you say your surname was again, Amber?"
"I didn't," Amber said, a slightly sly smile on her face.
Daphne raised an eyebrow, "What is your surname?"
"Avery," Amber confessed, "My full name is Amberley Avery."
There was a stunned silence.
"And you're a squib?"
"Yep."
"With a Muggle mother?"
"A Muggle-born mother," Amber corrected, "And the reason I punched my Dad was that I found out he had kidnapped my mother on Voldemort's orders. But in some strange twist of fate, she fell in love with him."
"It's called Stockholm Syndrome," Hermione piped up.
Draco looked over sharply.
"How do you know that?"
"I read a lot," Hermione said sarcastically.
Theo choked down an amused laugh and bit his tongue to keep his comment about Amber's mother having a control fetish to himself. Draco knew exactly what he was thinking and shot his best friend an amused look.
"Well," Harry said slowly, "That's interesting."
"Yeah," Daphne agreed, pulling another card out, "Who wants to go next?"
"I will," Hermione said, holding her hand up for the card. It floated towards her, and she read aloud.
"If I knew that I wouldn't get caught, I would totally…" a wicked grin spread across her face, " – permanently turn Rita Skeeter into her Animagus form and then stomp on her."
"Wow," Daphne said, staring at Hermione, "That's dark."
"Mione hates Skeeter," Sadie piped up.
"Yeah, I think we got that part, Sadie," Neville said.
Lilly chuckled, and Harry grinned.
"To be fair, I'd help."
Draco shook his head in amusement and looked at his wife.
"You are terrifying. You know that?"
Hermione smirked in response.
Daphne chuckled and sent a card in Draco's direction.
"Who said I wanted to play?" Draco complained.
"I don't care. You're playing," Daphne told him.
"Listen to your big sister, Draco."
Draco glared at Theo, "I won't hex you because I don't condone using magic while drunk, but I will punch you."
Theo knew he wouldn't, so he just smirked in response. Draco sent him a half-arsed glare then looked down at his card.
"To get out of work, I once told my boss.." he shot Hermione a sheepish look, "- that my wife's cat died. I think Sumner thought you were a crazy cat lady. I used that excuse at least three times."
Harry choked on his water, and Hermione smacked him over the head.
"You are insufferable!"
Daphne smirked and sent a card in Theo's direction. The dark-haired boy caught it deftly and grinned at what was on it.
"I'm not particularly kinky, but I do enjoy.." he looked over at Sadie, who was sitting next to Hermione. The dark-haired woman gave him a warning look, and Sadie raised a knowing eyebrow. Theo grinned and said what he wanted to say, "- when Hermione gets really drunk and convinces Draco that we should all sleep in one room because the castle is so 'cold'."
Hermione flicked her wrist in his direction, zipping his mouth shut.
Harry burst out laughing, and the others weren't far behind him. Theo, despite not being able to speak, still looked pleased with the carnage he had caused.
"He's staying like that for the rest of the night," Hermione said.
"I don't think there will be any complaints there," Daphne said through her laughter, "Sade, do you want a card?"
Sadie shot Daphne a smile and answered.
"Sure."
Daphne sent a card her friend's way, and Sadie chuckled when she read it.
"I sometimes judge people based on…" she looked sheepish, "- their wands."
Theo snorted but couldn't speak.
"Is that an innuendo?" Charlie asked.
Sadie shook her head in amusement.
"No, I genuinely do it. If someone has a particularly big wand, I think they're very magically powerful."
"Look at Harry's, it's tiny, and he's very magically powerful," Daphne pointed out.
The room erupted in laughter, and Harry cut in.
"Do you mind? You've never had any complaints before!"
The laughter doubled at this, and Daphne chucked a card at him good-naturedly.
"You go then."
Harry was still chuckling as he looked down at his card.
"To this day, I still find it highly arousing when…" he grinned at his wife, "- Daphne calls me Potter."
"You two get off on the conflict," Sadie chuckled, "You're just like Hermione and Draco."
"Could you not share details like that about our sex life, Sade?" Draco asked dryly.
Daphne sniggered and handed Lilly a card.
"Do I have to play? I'm not drinking," Lilly whined.
"It doesn't matter. You're playing," Daphne said assertively.
Lilly made a face and looked down at her card.
"My biggest romantic fail…" she thought for a brief moment, then smirked, "- was Ron Weasley."
Hermione cackled at that, and Charlie laughed so hard, he slipped out of his chair, much to Astoria's amusement.
"This is going to the dogs," Harry murmured in Lilly's ear.
"It's hilarious being sober while everyone else is drunk," Lilly muttered back.
"Welcome to my life," Harry joked.
Lilly heard the serious undertone and grabbed his hand.
"We'll make sure someone always stays sober, so you're not alone in this struggle."
Harry smiled and pulled her closer. She settled in against him with ease.
"Don't worry about it. I'm happy watching everyone else being happy."
Daphne gave Neville a card and asked.
"Do you want a hug, Neville? I feel left out with our other halves getting all cosy over there."
"Yeah, let's hug it out," Neville said with a joking grin. He grabbed Daphne's hand and pulled her over, hugging her tightly.
"Oi, do you mind? This is the no alcohol support group over here!" Lilly teased, but it was all in good nature and in all seriousness, none of them could remember when they had last been so relaxed.
Neville laughed and pulled away from Daphne to glance down at his card.
"I once ended a relationship.." he grimaced and looked at Harry, "- because every time I slept with her, I ended up thinking about Harry."
"Woah, Nev!" Harry joked, "Brothers, remember?"
"Because she was your girlfriend," Neville said, kicking Harry in the shin, "I genuinely couldn't sleep with Ginny without seeing you cursing the shit out of me, which became a turn-off pretty quickly."
"Can't imagine why," Daphne said sarcastically.
"Funny," Neville said, shooting the blonde woman an amused look.
"You next, Tori," Daphne said, sending a card her sister's way.
Considering what some of the previous cards had been like, Astoria was wary and probably rightfully so.
"When someone sleeps with me, I guarantee," she cringed and looked over at Charlie and Amber, "-there will be biting."
Charlie snorted, "That applied before you were a vampire, love," he said, winking at her.
"Jeez, man, you are so smooth," Amber admired, "How do you do it?"
Charlie grinned and grabbed a card from Daphne.
"It's a skill."
"Comes along with that ego you're always stroking," Daphne teased.
Charlie laughed, taking the joke in good stead and reading his card.
"A date I was on went awkward when.." he chuckled to himself, "- I spent the whole thing talking, and I think maybe crying, about how much I missed my ex-wife."
Harry snorted, "And she still slept with you?"
Charlie grinned, "I'm just that good. What can I say?"
Astoria sniggered and threw a cushion at him, and the evening descended into pure chaos from there.
* ~ TBC ~ *