HPFF(5)
Linus sighed. The Halloween party was a real drag. She didn't like the music and there was no one to talk to. Draco and Cerise, as well as Ron and Mione, were busy with each other. Harry had vanished. Linus decided to go to the Slytherin common room to look for company.
In the hallway, company found her. Asher Zerrati, David Wright and Francis Maxson, all three of them seventh-year Hufflepuffs, greeted her with smiles. Asher had cropped blondish hair and blue eyes. His friend David had hazel eyes, light-brown hair and a tight-lipped grin. Francis's hair was blond and parted at the side. He had a high forehead and his eyes were an icy blue. Each of the three was always complaining to Cerise and Linus about the other two, but in reality, the girls knew the three were all profoundly fond of each other.
"Linus!" Asher greeted her, "Tell him he's crazy!" he said, laughter sparkling in his eyes as he pointed at David.
"You're crazy," Linus said obediently, glad she had found someone interesting to talk to. "Why?" she asked Asher.
"David thinks the Wasps are going to win the National Quidditch Finals this year!" Asher laughed.
"They have a good chance!" David piped up.
"That is never going to happen!" exclaimed Asher. "There is no way they will ever beat the Cannons!"
"They have a chance!" protested David. Francis sighed and rolled his eyes.
* * *
Janine Lowcan, wielding an instant picture camera, was very proud that she was on the year book staff. Now all the Slytherin needed was someone to take a picture of. A set of unlucky potential victims staggered down the hall towards her.
"Vanessa!" Janine yelled, "Phebe! Stay right there!" she pointed the loaded camera at the girls. "Now say cheese!"
"Forget it!" slurred Phebe.
"Janine, Phebe is in no condition worthy of preserving on a photo right now." Vanessa frowned.
"But it's for the yearbook!" whined Janine, as if this explained everything.
"No." Vanessa stood her ground. "Maybe another time."
"Oh? Its for the yearbook?" Phebe asked with mock-interest. "If it's for the yearbook, then please, go ahead." She raised her arm, turned her palm to face her body and balled all her fingers except one into a fist.
"Oh, what a cute pose!" gushed Janine. "Smile!" She clicked. "What does it mean?"
"It's Muggle for FUCK OFF," explained Phebe rather un-placidly.
"Hey!" Janine said angrily, "You've ruined my picture!" She threw the wizard-Polaroid at them and stomped off in a huff.
"You must excuse her!" Van yelled after Janine's retreating back. "She's a little inebriated!" She shrugged and bent down to pick up the picture. Phebe bent down with her. There was nowhere else to go. "Smooth," Van said to Phebe, tucking the wizard-Polaroid into a pocket for safe-keeping. "How much did you drink at the party?"
"It was a Blast," Phebe said.
"Yeah, I know, but how much did you drink?"
"Just a cocktail and a half. And I had a Blast."
"I know you had a blast," Vanessa said, "why do you keep repeating it?"
"I want more!" Phebe pleaded.
"There is no way I am taking you back to the party in this state! What is wrong with you?" Van turned to Phebe and frowned at her.
"No!" yelled Phebe, "I want Blast!"
"Sounds to me like you've had quite a few drinks.." stated Vanessa.
Phebe lowered her voice. "Blast," she said, "Drugs, powder."
"Are you crazy?!" Vanessa hissed. "I thought you got over this last year!"
"One last time," Phebe begged. "And never again after. Please?"
"How did you get it in the first place?" asked Vanessa in horror.
"Harry brought me a drink," explained Phebe.
"One spiked drink riled you up like this?" Vanessa scoffed. "Puh-lease!"
"No .. I go another one," admitted Phebe.
"Vanessa shook her head. "I'm disappointed in you." Phebe was silent.
* * *
Harry had stopped counting after his sixth drink. It was a quarter to 2 AM and Grayburn had abandoned their instruments and attacked the bar instead. (And the groupies, hehehe..)
Blinking, Harry realized Draco and Cerise were gone. Harry got up and staggered towards the bar. The lounge was a little less crowded that before, but it was still not easy for the intoxicated teen to navigate.
"Harry!" yelled Jack, who'd had a couple of drinks too. "Get over here, man!"
"Check this," said Terry, who was suffering from a intoxication almost as severe as Jack's. "Do you know karaoke, Harry?"
"Carry what?" Harry slurred.
"It's a really funny Muggle game," explained a laughing Terry, "Sonorus!" He flicked his wand at Harry. "Sing!" he commanded.
"Sing what?" Harry's puzzled voice boomed. The crown in the lounge looked at him in surprise. Terry and Jack were rolling on the floor, laughing.
"Guys?" said Harry. "This sucks. Turn it off!"
* * *
Phebe woke up the with what she thought was the sun shining in her eyes.
"Lumos!" said Wera, holding her glowing wand over Phebe's head. Phebe stirred. "Well, I think she's alive."
"A good sign," agreed Vanessa.
"Huh?" Phebe croaked. She pushed Wera's shining wand away groggily. "What time is it?"
"Uhm, it's sev – ah, nine," Wera stuttered.
"Did you say SEVEN?!" Phebe screeched, sitting bolt upright. "GET OUT! I NEED SLEEP!"
Wera and Vanessa fled from the dorm before Phebe woke up enough to use her wand. They decided to help the voluntary cleaning squad in the multi-house lounge.
* * *
Harry did not want to open his eyes. His head hurt and his back hurt and he knew his eyes would if he opened them. Foolish as he was, he opened them anyway, just to make sure he could still see. He re-closed them immediately to block out the light that sent searing pains shooting through his head.
Then Harry decided to sit up, unaware of the fact that he had spent the night under a low table. The impact of his head on the underside of it made a loud "thwock" noise that rattled his skull. Once the pain subsided, Harry pondered his situation rationally and came to the conclusion that it was better to stay under the table until some kind soul came to help him out.
Unfortunately, the voluntary cleaning squad did not. David pulled Harry out from his cozy cave under heavy protest.
"Ugh," moaned Harry, feeling a wave of nausea wash over him. He staggered to his feet and searched for the exit of the lounge. Harry smacked face-first into the notice board that hung just to the right of the door, as he had opted to keep his eyes closed. He squinted them open a few millimeters and wished he hadn't.
In shock, young Potter turned away from the notice board Janine had just finished plastering with waving, flashing photos.
"Good morning!" yelled Janine cheerily.
"Do. Not. Do. That." Harry enunciated slowly, clutching his poor, aching head.
* * *
Vanessa's jaw dropped to her knees when she and Wera entered the lounge.
"Harry!" she shrieked.
"Noooo!" he gasped as his hands shot up and cradled his head.
"Oh no!" Wera exclaimed, rushing to his side. "Is it your scar? Is You-Know-Who back?"
"No," said Harry, covering his face with his hands. "I have a hangover. So either speak quietly or shut up entirely." He dropped his hands. "The latter is preferred."
"Oh!" wheezed Van.
"Mmrph!" Wera gurgled.
"What?" asked Harry, irritated. "What now?"
"Y-y-your.." Vanessa covered her mouth with both hands to suppress her laughter.
"Face!" finished Wera, gales of laughter bursting from her lungs.
"Ow!" yelled Harry, clasping his head.
"Vanessa turned to the notice board and away from her friends in an attempt to keep a straight face. It was not a good move. Janine had attacked the lounge with her instant camera after encountering Vanessa and Phebe. Janine had indeed been quite busy.
"What's wrong with my face?" asked Harry, turning to look at the photos on the wall. "Uh-oh," he mouthed. If he looked like the Harry on the Photo then it meant that..
"It's PURPLE!" screamed Wera, clapping her hands and thereby causing the young Potter even more headaches.
Harry's face was covered in purple pen. Studying the photos closely revealed to the three friends that Jack, Terry and a Muggle-brand pen, a so-called "Edding," had been the evil-doers.
"Do something!" he pleaded.
* * *
Phebe pulled the quilts over her head and snuggled deeply into the warm blankets. She sighed and drifted off into a hazy half-sleep that was interrupted by her friends crashing into the room.
"Oooooh!" wailed Phebe, feeling very sorry for herself.
"Look at this!" exclaimed Vanessa, Frisbee-ing an instant photograph she had filched from the notice board at Phebe.
"What the?" gasped the half-asleep teen. A purple-faced Harry cheesed and waved at her. "What in the blue fuck is this?"
"Suits him, don't it?" laughed Vanessa. Wera joined in heartily.
Phebe tossed the photo back. "This is an emergency! We need Hermione."