So, this is just a small chapter to pepper in, because… well, I feel like I have to include a NYE chapter. So, here we are.
31st December, 2008
Galloway Manor, Ulster
Faith was in her room, turning around to look at her outfit. She didn't really wear anything besides slacks and shirts. Not outside of school, anyway. And here she was, dressing up to go to a party and had no clue what to wear.
She'd been fortunate enough to have run into Georgina and Serenity Armstrong when they'd stayed around the weeks prior to practice with Seth and the rest of the Ravenclaw quidditch team.
So, here she was, standing in her room and looking at Georgina, who wore a leather choker with a heart-shaped clasp, ripped jeans and a red-and-black-striped corset. Georgina's red hair was a mess of curls, sprouting out wildly from her head.
The younger Armstrong, however, was dressed rather simply. A pair of blue jeans and white trainers that were covered in multi-coloured sharpie-drawings of flowers and vines. She wore a simple pink t-shirt tucked into her jeans, and a faux-fur-lined blue jacket.
"I said casual," Georgina said slowly.
"This is casual," Faith replied. She was in a pair of blue slacks and an azure shirt.
"You look like you're still in school," Georgina exclaimed.
"It is pretty formal…" Serenity agreed.
"Let's see what you've got," Georgina said, jumping up from the bed and making her way to the armoire. "Maybe something sparkly…"
"I don't want to be overdressed…"
"It's an Adler party," Georgina laughed, "if anyone's overdressed, it's him."
"Or his sister," Serenity said, smiling slightly at her distant memory of the youngest Adler. Suddenly her smile vanished. "D'you reckon it's too late to change?"
"Yes. Look, Faith, just wear something…" Georgina pulled out a plaid skirt and a jumper. "Does everything you own make you look like a schoolgirl?"
"I am a schoolgirl," Faith pointed out, taking the hangers from Georgina and placing them back in the wardrobe.
Georgina dawdled across to the other side of the room, running her fingers along Faith's bedframe as she looked out of the ajar door, across the landing…
"Is Seth coming tonight?"
"Yeah, right," Faith snorted.
"He's come to parties before," Georgina reasoned.
"He and Dorian have some problem," Faith said, waving a hand. "It's a long story."
"Do tell," Georgina sat down on the bed.
"Or how about we see how long we can do something other than talking about boys and clothes?" Serenity asked, crossing one leg over the other. "You're playing Gryffindor soon, right?"
"Yeah," Faith shrugged. She was doing her best not to let the nerves get to her – Gryffindor had been a strong team for the past few years. And Hufflepuff had lost the last three matches against them. But Faith was Captain now – that could change things… maybe?
"Nervous?"
"Maybe a touch…"
"Just hit one bludger at Alessia Smythe, the other at Adler-"
"Ten whole seconds!" Serenity called.
"And then you're laughing."
"Grand," Faith nodded. "I'll just go as I am."
Serenity rolled off the bed. "Thank God for that," she said. "So, floo powder?"
As the Armstrong cousins made their way down the stairs to the foyer, Faith veered off across the landing. She'd pulled on a large, cable-knit jumper that fell over her grey slacks, and was threading her arms through her coat when she popped her head into Seth's room.
"Seth?" Faith found Seth sitting at his desk, reading a book, while Quinlan Kenswick sat on the floor, leaning against the bedframe with a pile of books next to him. "Oh, hey Quin – no plans?"
"Just hanging about," Quin replied.
"What's up, Faith?" Seth asked, swivelling around on his chair.
"I'm just off to the party now. Wanted to give you one last chance."
"A party?" Quin looked to Seth.
"Yeah, Harrison's birthday is tomorrow, so Dorian Adler, Jamie Helstrom, Cormac O'Hare – they're throwing a party for him."
"We should go," Quin said to Seth.
"Okay," Seth replied, turning back around to finish reading his book. Faith rolled her eyes.
"Seth?"
He turned around slowly, looking between them both. "Oh, you want…" he cleared his throat, "Okay, enjoy, I'll see you both tomorrow. Next year, even."
"Seth, would it kill you to come to this party?"
"It actually might," Seth said, scratching his chin.
"C'mon, Seth," Quin said, standing up, "we've done nothing all week. Just… read."
"Anyway, maybe see you, Georgina and Serenity are waiting downstairs for me…"
"See?" Quin said. "It's basically the whole quidditch team."
"It's two people," Seth began.
"And with us, that's four. Most of the team."
"Seriously, go, enjoy. I doubt there's much there for me," Seth said, giving them a smile before turning back to his book. Quin exchanged a look with Faith, who smiled slightly.
"Alessia's friends with Harrison," she said quietly. There was a brief pause of silence as Seth looked up from his book, still facing away from his sister and his houseguest.
Adler Residence, Chelsea, London
The flat was absolutely bustling with people. From all over – Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, even one or two faces from Ilvermorny were there. Music thumped out by the trio, Circe, in the living room, where no less than fifty students jumped up and down and sang along to their music.
Leaning on the railing on the floor above, overlooking the party, was Harrison MacAllister, mere hours away from turning sixteen. He was busy pulling his kilt down to his knees. Jay had had the idea a few months ago, apparently, and Dorian and Cormac were more than happy to go along with it. Hence, Harrison had to keep the kilt on until midnight.
"Okay…" Harrison nodded, "I think this might be the best birthday ever."
"Ah, anything for you, little Ri," Cormac said, squeezing the younger boy's shoulders as he leant over the railing to watch Circe play. "They put on a right show, don't they… Oi, Ads, how did you get them to play?"
"I know Lydia," Dorian said as he walked over with a bottle of Blinshen's, filling up his tumbler. He nodded towards the tall brunette who sang.
"How did you meet her?" Harrison asked, his jaw dropping slightly.
"Threw enough money until he could get backstage," Jamie informed him, as he walked over to Dorian, holding out a hand for the bottle.
"Well, that's… factually correct, in essence, but, that's how I got to meet her, not how I know her," Dorian stated, handing Jamie the bottle.
"That wouldn't have anything to do with Veela blood, would it?" Jamie cocked an eyebrow as he passed the bottle to Cormac.
"Maybe it's just my boyish charm," Dorian said innocently. "I'm more than just a face."
"Yeah, you're a right arse," Cormac scoffed.
At that point, there was a crash. Harrison looked over to see a glass coffee table had been smashed. He looked over to the others, who didn't seem fazed in the slightest.
"Won't your mum and… mind?" Harrison asked.
"Of course not," Dorian waved a hand, "this is what school's all about. Fraternal bonding, ickle Ri!"
"Erm, some say school's about learning," Jamie pointed at him.
"Well, they're no friends of ours," Ri said.
"Well said, Ri!" Dorian said, clinking his glass.
"I'll drink to that," Cormac said, raising the tumbler to his lips.
"You'll drink to anything…" Jay said, rolling his eyes.
"Alright, trouble-chasers, to another year of truancy, transgressions and yielding to temptation," Dorian said, until Jay loudly cleared his throat, "and- yes, thanks Jay, of course, happy birthday to Ri. Any words to say?"
Harrison felt a bit of a sweat and his voice began to shake. "Erm…" He licked his lips and swallowed, clearing his throat – all at once, which left him coughing slightly. He opened his mouth – wholly unsure of what he was going to say. "I just wanted to say-"
"Well said," they said in disjointed unison, clinking their glasses against his and drinking together. Harrison's throat was scorched – burnt raw from the firewhiskey. Dorian and Jay flinched slightly, but Harrison knocked it back like a glass of pumpkin juice.
"Let's put some hairs on your chest," Cormac said, taking the bottle and pouring a sour-faced Harrison another glass.
"Never mind his chest, let's sort out those legs first," Dorian said, nodding to Harrison's skinny and pale shins.
"Erm," the loud voice cut them off. They all turned to see Alessia there, wearing a golden floral crop-top that exposed her caramel shoulders. She wore a pair of hoops, skinny light-blue jeans and some strappy sandals. Her hair was as curly as ever, and she made her way through the quartet of boys, taking the bottle of firewhiskey (much to Cormac's dismay), "are you pressuring him to drink?"
"I wouldn't say pressuring, Ales," Dorian said, wagging a finger, "more… gently nudging him on the way to…"
Alessia narrowed her eyes at him. There was a beat of silence (save Circe's singing).
"Yeah, Ales, we were pressuring him," Jay said eventually.
"Well, if there's a night for it…" Alessia said, handing the bottle over to Jamie (no doubt, he was the one she trusted most with it). "Sorry Harrison, you're not going to have a fun birthday tomorrow."
"Then we should make the most of it tonight," Cormac said to Harrison, putting an arm around his shoulder and leading him over to Jamie.
"Careful with him," Alessia said into Dorian's ear as she walked over with him to the kitchen, looking to fix herself a drink.
"With Ri?" Dorian asked, laughing slightly.
"He'd do anything to impress you, you know."
"I do know. This is why I keep him around," Dorian smirked.
"I'm serious."
"As am I," Dorian said, cracking a smile. "He's fine."
"He's in a kilt!"
"But not tights – I wanted him to wear tights…"
Alessia crossed her arms. "So…"
"So…?"
"Are you going to-" She glanced at the others who walked through the kitchen before taking Dorian by the wrist and pulling him into the corner.
"It's not midnight, Ales, there's no need to pull me into a dark corner," Dorian said.
"That's… actually pretty gross."
"Give me a second, I'm sure I can come up with-" Dorian raised a finger, but Alessia slapped it down.
"Aurora Tremblay."
Dorian's smirks and grins dissipated and he shifted his weight from one leg to the other, pulling up his trousers by the waistline and dropping his gaze to the floor. "Ah. That."
"Yes, that. What were you going to tell me about it?"
Dorian shrugged. "This is a little too public…"
"Dorian, I'm not like you – it's not like Wizarding knowledge is aplenty at my house, so…" she gestured to him with her hands, "spill."
Dorian licked his lips and shrugged again. "I don't know too much."
"What do you know?"
Dorian sucked in some breath and glanced around again. "Okay, so… the Tremblays were kind of… big on the pureblood mania."
Alessia's stomach dropped immediately. She already knew what was coming – that one sentence was enough. She knew she wanted to hear it – or, rather, she had to. But she also knew she wasn't going to enjoy it.
"Hated muggles – muggle-borns even more… the way Uncle George tells it, they were all Slytherin elites – supporters of You-Know-"
"I do know, thank you, Ads," Alessia said. "But, wait, my dad's a muggle, so how does that work?"
Dorian shrugged. "I don't know, Ales."
Alessia nodded. "Well, thanks for that," she said curtly, before picking up a bottle of elderflower wine and walking down the stairs and into the party.
"She alright?" Jamie asked Dorian.
"Yeah, she'll be fine." Dorian said, watching as she began to down the bottle of wine as she descended the stairs. "Actually, I should probably…"
"Got ya," Jamie said, slapping Dorian on the shoulder.
Seth loathed loud places. It wasn't loud like the quidditch pitch, or like a first-year Charms class. It was loud like the Three Broomsticks. He imagined the Gryffindor Common Room was often like this.
Stepping out of the fireplace after Quin, Seth found drunken witches and wizards staggering around the apartment – it was all so minimalist and spacious. He found it hard to believe there was a penthouse like it in London.
Faith lingered back, grabbing onto Seth's shoulder and calling into his ear, "When's the last time you went to something like this, Seth?"
"Never. For good reason."
"Speaking of reasons," Faith said, nodding towards the main room, where a trio of women plaid. Seth frowned.
"Who's that?"
Faith rolled her eyes. "Go, listen!" Faith turned back to Georgina and Serenity and set about finding the rest of her friends. Seth licked his lips, looking around. He recognized a lot of people, that much was certain. But he wouldn't go as far as to say he was really friends with any of them.
He dawdled along, hands in his pockets as he tutted to himself, absent-mindedly. He went onto his toes, peering over the heads of the dancing crowd and began to try and look for the curly chestnut-blonde hair…
He didn't have to look for very long, as Alessia bumped into him, splashing some wine out of a bottle and onto his sleeve.
"Oh, hey," Alessia wiped her lips with the back of her hand. "I… didn't expect you to come tonight."
"I wasn't planning on it, but… Quin felt cooped up."
"Oh, Quin's… staying with you?"
"Yeah, stuff's not great at his," Seth explained, "his family can be a bit… difficult."
"A lot of that going around," Alessia nodded. "So, who're you here with?"
"Well, Quin, obviously, and Faith and Georgina- Serenity too…"
"Nice little crowd."
"Yeah, they've gone off to…" Seth glanced over his shoulder and frowned – he had no idea what direction they'd left in. He turned back around to Alessia. "You seem to be drinking… a lot…"
"Is that judgement?"
"Confusion, mostly."
Alessia had a swig from her bottle once more. "Hey, you're smart – why do you think an overly zealous pureblood-preserving witch would have a kid with a muggle?"
Seth frowned again. "Is this a riddle?"
Alessia sighed and held out her arms, giving a sad smile. "I found out who my mum is."
"Is?"
"Aurora Tremblay," Alessia scoffed. "Apparently they were all about the pureblood stuff."
Seth nodded. Aurora Tremblay… he knew of the Tremblay family, of course, but Aurora… that stood out to him. "Why do I know that name?"
"You mean the pureblood nutjobs?"
"No, Aurora. It's familiar…" He waved a hand. "Sorry, that's… not relevant right now, is it?"
"Please, pile it on, whatever you know. Was she also half… dementor?"
"No – otherwise you'd be sucking the joy out of the room."
Alessia gave a small scoff. "That's actually pretty funny…"
"Yeah, well…" Seth looked around the room. "So, new year's resolution?"
"To stop caring who my mum is?"
Seth's brow creased. "Why would you want to do that?"
"Because she's a bigot and a fanatic?"
"Well, the family was, doesn't mean she is."
"She also left me. And Dorian said I shouldn't-"
"What would Dorian know?" Seth asked. "Look around – when he has had anything remotely hard?"
"Well, his dad did…" Alessia blinked and let out a small laugh, rubbing her forehead. "This wine is strong."
"Yeah, maybe…" Seth reached out and took the bottle, "not the best idea, I don't think."
"Maybe… good call," Alessia nodded. Suddenly, the flat erupted into a countdown of numbers. Seth felt his hands begin to grow clammy and his stomach tighten as he looked to Alessia, opening his mouth to tell her that they didn't have to keep to tradition. As the countdown approached '3', he let out a nervous laugh.
"We don't have to kiss," he informed her. She raised an eyebrow. "I mean, you know we don't have to, I just… don't want to."
Alessia nodded. "Flattering."
"No, I just…" Seth scrunched up his eyes – this was why he didn't talk to people… "It's not that I don't want to kiss someone, I just don't want to kiss you… now."
Alessia nodded. "You're so charming," she nodded. "Well, enjoy… kissing someone else, I guess."
Seth groaned. "You don't get it- no, I'm not saying it…" He groaned. "Look, I just… I don't want the first time I kiss you to be at… some party when you've been drinking and…" He began to itch his palm. Merlin's beard, he was itchy…
As everyone cheered, Alessia craned her neck and pressed her bow-shaped lips against his small mouth, her hazel eyes closing. Seth felt his lips crackle, like lightning was being transmitted into his body. He didn't know what to do with his hands – instead he flung them behind his body and kissed back.
Alessia pulled away and looked up at him. "It's not a big deal. New Year's tradition."
Seth nodded. "Tradition, yeah."
5 Minutes Earlier…
Faith was on the dancefloor, listening to Circe begin to slow down their outro until a gentle, sweeping song began to play. Purple and turqoise and silver and chartreuse balls of light began to illuminate the darkened apartment.
The tall brunette at the front of the band, Lydia Primhorn, instructed the crowds, "Partner up with that special someone!"
Faith turned around to see Serenity dancing with an older girl, and Georgina had left completely. Quin was on the other side of the room. Faith looked around and found that Pippy Adler was dancing with a handsome red-haired teenager. Meanwhile, another ginger boy approached her, eyes locked onto hers. Faith began to look around for a way out, away from the boy, who wore… well, Faith wasn't exactly material, but blue and orange didn't work together…
"What the-"
A body pushed up against her and moved her through the crowd. Faith found herself being held up by the willowy Dorian Adler, who was dressed in a gold linen shirt, half-tucked into a pair of white trousers.
"You heard la dame," Dorian pointed at Lydia, "we're to 'partner up' – did I spy you breaking the rules and fleeing the dancefloor?"
"No," Faith lied determinedly.
"Okay," Dorian said, his lip curling slightly.
"You nearly knocked me over," Faith said, after a few seconds of listening to Lost in Aeaea.
"As if – you're a beater. Can't say I'm more of a threat than a bludger, can you?" Dorian asked. She glanced over his shoulder to the ginger boy, who was looking around in the crowd for someone dancing on their own. "Besides, I'm just keeping you on your toes for our upcoming match. Or I could swap out with Chuck, if you want?"
"Chuck?"
Dorian glanced over his shoulder to the ginger boy. "Goes to school with Pip."
"Do whatever, Dorian…" Faith sighed.
"Frosty with me, again?"
"What do you think?"
"Does it matter?"
Faith huffed. "Yes, okay, I'm a little annoyed at you."
"Why?"
"I thought you were going to try and be nicer to Seth?"
"Haven't I been?" Dorian asked.
"Not really. Seems like there's still some tension with you two…" She said, looking up at Dorian, but this time, it was him who wasn't looking at her. Instead, he was looking out across the heads of the dancing party-goers. "Going to fill me in?" Faith asked.
"We just clash," Dorian shrugged. "Chalk and cheese. Blue and orange," he said, smiling slightly.
"That's a little rude," Faith said, her eyes flitting to Chuck.
"Doesn't that make it a bit funnier?"
Faith shook her head. Then, a thought planted itself in her head. "Is that why you make fun of people at school? Because it's fun?"
"No, that- that's not the 'why', more just the… 'how'."
"Ah. So, what, you just don't like people?"
"Most people," Dorian corrected her.
"At Hogwarts?"
"There's a few worth knowing…" Dorian nodded, smiling slightly at her.
"So, why not just leave?" Faith asked, frowning.
Dorian's brow crumpled up in confusion. "How do you mean?"
"Well, you don't like most people at Hogwarts, and you don't seem to enjoy your classes… you keep going on about how you could go professional with Quidditch - and I'm sure your mum could get you a place at another school, so… why did you choose to go to Hogwarts for another year?"
"Mum doesn't think Quidditch is a realistic career," Dorian informed her. "Besides, it looks good – having two kids attend Britain's Wizarding school…"
"Nothing to do with Hogwarts being one of the best schools, then?"
Dorian raised an eyebrow. "Not with her…"
"I don't believe you."
"If you please…"
"Did she tell you this?" Faith asked.
"Mum said dad would've wanted me to stay at Hogwarts and treasure the friendships I've built," Dorian explained. Faith stared at him, waiting for him to get to the point. He simply leant in and whispered into her ear, "She hates my friends."
Faith nodded. Marianne had seemed so lovely and genuine back at Christmas. But… well, her own mother could be… severe, at times. She thought about what she would say if Faith told her she wanted to drop out of Hogwarts and pursue a career in quidditch…
"There's worst things that could happen," Faith said eventually. "Having parents that want you to go to school, at an amazing school, as well…"
Suddenly the room erupted into a shouting of numbers. Counting down – the last ten seconds of the year.
Dorian looked up and, in a flash, he was smiling and happy again. Faith frowned as she looked up at him shouting out the numbers as well, looking around the room, as if he was searching for something.
As everyone erupted into shouting 'Happy New Year,' the small swirling balls of light erupted into fireworks, illuminating the apartment in a dizzying array of colours. As Faith glanced around the room, she noticed many of the people who had been dancing were now kissing. She looked back to Dorian.
"I'm not going to kiss you," she told him.
"Good, Lydia might get jealous."
"Well… Good." Faith nodded, swallowing. She stared up into his dark, black-tar eyes, hooded by platinum eyebrows. His features were sharp and striking, his tousled hair, casually coifed. His gold shirt shimmering in the light.
"Happy New Year, Faithy." And with that, he disappeared into the crowds.
As I said, it's a small chapter. Anyway, I'll update next weekend (hopefully). I may be accepting another character, so let me know if you've got one to submit.
Alright, see you for the next chapter (which will be more 'main plot' involved).