Disclaimer: Not my characters...
The bar was about three times as large as the Gryffindor common room, with a curved roof. Ron and Hermione stood on a raised section of the room, with the bar to their left. There were deep red leather seats around the walls, divided into booths with a mahogany rectangular table. Where they stood there were also three round tables in the centre of the platform. Stone steps led down to the remainder of the room, which had a large, clear space in the centre which Ron hoped *wasn't* intended to be a dance floor for later. Hogwarts banners decorated the walls, and hundreds of tiny candles placed around the room provided atmospheric lighting.
Ron surveyed the room, and noticed Seamus waving at them from across the room, sitting next to Fred and George who appeared to be engrossed with Katie Bell and Alicia Spinnet.
'Funny how Fred doesn't seem to miss Angelina at all when he's got the attention of Katie.' Remarked Ron, rolling his eyes at Hermione.
'Hmmm. Well, they don't have the reputation of Gryffindor's biggest flirts for nothing.'
'*Male* flirts maybe, but you can't tell me they're worse than Parvati and Lavender. I really don't know how you put up with those two, they're bad enough in Divination!'
'I suppose,' replied Hermione as the walked over to the bar, 'How's Angelina doing? Is she still running the Quidditch training courses?'
'Yes, they're going quite well. It's a great idea really. I reckon more people will try out for the house teams if they've had Angelina training them! She'd best make sure to ignore the potential Slytherins though; or at least teach them the wrong tactics.' Ron stopped as he now faced the difficult decision of choosing a drink. And difficult it was. There had to be over a hundred different ones to pick from, all the colours imaginable, including some which changed colour, in bottles of different shapes and sizes. It reminded Hermione of Snape's potion riddle guarding the Philosopher's stone. Hermione chose a deep red drink, based on the fact that it didn't look like it might explode in her face when she took a sip. Ron seemed to have a better knowledge of the vast range of wizard alcohol, Hermione guessed this came from having a large amount of older brothers, and ordered a Blue Bat. This drink was midnight blue, and came in a tall rectangular bottle. Drinks ordered, they went to sit down with the twins.
'Hermione! Ron! We were wondering when you'd finally make it down here...' began Fred.
'Yes, who'd have thought it hey? Our ikkle Ronniekins all grown up' teased George.
'Wonder what mum would think if she knew her baby boy was drinking alcohol... the loss of innocence... it's such a shame' sighed Fred.
'I expect she's used to it, seeing as you two were never innocent!' Retorted Ron. Hermione noticed the tips of his ears turning slightly pink, and not wanting to be caught up in yet another Weasley brother argument quickly changed the subject.
'What are these socials like? I've never been down here before, and I couldn't ask anyone else about them in case someone overheard.'
'Never been down here before Hermione? I'd never have guessed... I mean you've chosen possibly *the* weakest drink in existence!' Seamus teased.
Hermione eyed Seamus' fizzing blue concoction suspicisously. It looked as though it would do something nasty to your insides. As it started shooting turquoise sparks, Hermione made a mental note never to try that particular drink. Her shock must have been visible, as the twins started laughing.
'No, Hermione, you want to try *our* drinks, they're the best!'
'Since when would anyone trust anything *you two* recommend?' asked Ron.
'Ron, you hurt us!' exclaimed George, 'And I thought you were meant to be our admiring little brother?'
'Admiring? After sixteen years of putting up with your antics?'
Fred and George exchanged identical grins. 'Seriously Hermione,' said Fred 'This is the best drink you can get.'
'But they're not the same!' Noted Hermione. Fred's drink was a sparkling orange colour, not dissimilar to the twin's hair, which was lighter than Ron's deep red, and George's was a light green colour.
'Ahh, the delights of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beer' smiled George. 'It changes flavour, and colour, every time you take a sip. Watch!'
Sure enough, as George raised the glass to his lips, it turned a pale pink colour. 'Yum, Strawberry Ice Cream!' he licked his lips.
Fred, on the other hand, wasn't as lucky. 'Ugh, liquorice!' he exclaimed, as his drink turned a foreboding black.
'What's the point in a drink that you don't even like the taste of?'
Seamus, Fred and George all rolled their eyes. It was clear Hermione wasn't going to be easily convinced.
'Simple' replied George. 'All you have to do is wait until you find a flavour you like...'
'... then drink it down as fast as you can! Watch.' Finished Fred.
The twins raised their glasses. Fred's drink was now yellow, while George's was a chocolatey brown. Clinking the glasses together, the twins began downing the drink with cheers of encouragement from Seamus.
'There!' exclaimed Fred, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
'Simple as that.' Smiled George.
'But isn't that a bit *dangerous*, drinking alcohol so fast?'
'Honestly, Hermione, we know you're a stickler for the rules, but come on!'
'She's only being sensible!' Ron stood up for his best friend. The twins exchanged knowing glances.
'Oh leave her alone you two' Alicia Spinnet broke into the conversation. 'You'll regret not listening to her in the morning when your heads feel like they're going to explode.'
'Yes, mother.' Replied George. Just then, the lights dimmed, and music started playing.
'Dance time! Yes!' Whooped George, grabbing Alicia and pulling her into the centre of the floor. (Ron's fears had been confirmed). Seamus stood up, seemingly feeling more courageous following a few drinks, and walked over to the table where Lavender, Parvati, Padma and one of Padma's Ravenclaw friends who Ron didn't recognise were sitting.
'Going to dance, you two?' asked Fred
'Erm... think I'll have this drink first...' replied Ron.
'Me too.' Hermione added.
'Ok then, come on Katie, let's leave these two to it.' The Quidditch players left to join George and Alicia on the dance floor, Fred aiming a completely conspicuous wink at Ron. Why are brothers such a pain? Ron wondered, hoping Hermione hadn't noticed. He'd had enough of the twins' remarks about her during the holidays. She was just a friend!
He turned to Hermione, who was looking at her drink. Sensing Ron's eyes on her, she looked up, and took a deep breath.
'Well, here goes nothing!'
She took a gulp of her drink, enjoying the slightly fuzzy sensation it created.
'Mmm, raspberry!'
She grinned at Ron, who couldn't help but grin back.
The bar was about three times as large as the Gryffindor common room, with a curved roof. Ron and Hermione stood on a raised section of the room, with the bar to their left. There were deep red leather seats around the walls, divided into booths with a mahogany rectangular table. Where they stood there were also three round tables in the centre of the platform. Stone steps led down to the remainder of the room, which had a large, clear space in the centre which Ron hoped *wasn't* intended to be a dance floor for later. Hogwarts banners decorated the walls, and hundreds of tiny candles placed around the room provided atmospheric lighting.
Ron surveyed the room, and noticed Seamus waving at them from across the room, sitting next to Fred and George who appeared to be engrossed with Katie Bell and Alicia Spinnet.
'Funny how Fred doesn't seem to miss Angelina at all when he's got the attention of Katie.' Remarked Ron, rolling his eyes at Hermione.
'Hmmm. Well, they don't have the reputation of Gryffindor's biggest flirts for nothing.'
'*Male* flirts maybe, but you can't tell me they're worse than Parvati and Lavender. I really don't know how you put up with those two, they're bad enough in Divination!'
'I suppose,' replied Hermione as the walked over to the bar, 'How's Angelina doing? Is she still running the Quidditch training courses?'
'Yes, they're going quite well. It's a great idea really. I reckon more people will try out for the house teams if they've had Angelina training them! She'd best make sure to ignore the potential Slytherins though; or at least teach them the wrong tactics.' Ron stopped as he now faced the difficult decision of choosing a drink. And difficult it was. There had to be over a hundred different ones to pick from, all the colours imaginable, including some which changed colour, in bottles of different shapes and sizes. It reminded Hermione of Snape's potion riddle guarding the Philosopher's stone. Hermione chose a deep red drink, based on the fact that it didn't look like it might explode in her face when she took a sip. Ron seemed to have a better knowledge of the vast range of wizard alcohol, Hermione guessed this came from having a large amount of older brothers, and ordered a Blue Bat. This drink was midnight blue, and came in a tall rectangular bottle. Drinks ordered, they went to sit down with the twins.
'Hermione! Ron! We were wondering when you'd finally make it down here...' began Fred.
'Yes, who'd have thought it hey? Our ikkle Ronniekins all grown up' teased George.
'Wonder what mum would think if she knew her baby boy was drinking alcohol... the loss of innocence... it's such a shame' sighed Fred.
'I expect she's used to it, seeing as you two were never innocent!' Retorted Ron. Hermione noticed the tips of his ears turning slightly pink, and not wanting to be caught up in yet another Weasley brother argument quickly changed the subject.
'What are these socials like? I've never been down here before, and I couldn't ask anyone else about them in case someone overheard.'
'Never been down here before Hermione? I'd never have guessed... I mean you've chosen possibly *the* weakest drink in existence!' Seamus teased.
Hermione eyed Seamus' fizzing blue concoction suspicisously. It looked as though it would do something nasty to your insides. As it started shooting turquoise sparks, Hermione made a mental note never to try that particular drink. Her shock must have been visible, as the twins started laughing.
'No, Hermione, you want to try *our* drinks, they're the best!'
'Since when would anyone trust anything *you two* recommend?' asked Ron.
'Ron, you hurt us!' exclaimed George, 'And I thought you were meant to be our admiring little brother?'
'Admiring? After sixteen years of putting up with your antics?'
Fred and George exchanged identical grins. 'Seriously Hermione,' said Fred 'This is the best drink you can get.'
'But they're not the same!' Noted Hermione. Fred's drink was a sparkling orange colour, not dissimilar to the twin's hair, which was lighter than Ron's deep red, and George's was a light green colour.
'Ahh, the delights of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beer' smiled George. 'It changes flavour, and colour, every time you take a sip. Watch!'
Sure enough, as George raised the glass to his lips, it turned a pale pink colour. 'Yum, Strawberry Ice Cream!' he licked his lips.
Fred, on the other hand, wasn't as lucky. 'Ugh, liquorice!' he exclaimed, as his drink turned a foreboding black.
'What's the point in a drink that you don't even like the taste of?'
Seamus, Fred and George all rolled their eyes. It was clear Hermione wasn't going to be easily convinced.
'Simple' replied George. 'All you have to do is wait until you find a flavour you like...'
'... then drink it down as fast as you can! Watch.' Finished Fred.
The twins raised their glasses. Fred's drink was now yellow, while George's was a chocolatey brown. Clinking the glasses together, the twins began downing the drink with cheers of encouragement from Seamus.
'There!' exclaimed Fred, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
'Simple as that.' Smiled George.
'But isn't that a bit *dangerous*, drinking alcohol so fast?'
'Honestly, Hermione, we know you're a stickler for the rules, but come on!'
'She's only being sensible!' Ron stood up for his best friend. The twins exchanged knowing glances.
'Oh leave her alone you two' Alicia Spinnet broke into the conversation. 'You'll regret not listening to her in the morning when your heads feel like they're going to explode.'
'Yes, mother.' Replied George. Just then, the lights dimmed, and music started playing.
'Dance time! Yes!' Whooped George, grabbing Alicia and pulling her into the centre of the floor. (Ron's fears had been confirmed). Seamus stood up, seemingly feeling more courageous following a few drinks, and walked over to the table where Lavender, Parvati, Padma and one of Padma's Ravenclaw friends who Ron didn't recognise were sitting.
'Going to dance, you two?' asked Fred
'Erm... think I'll have this drink first...' replied Ron.
'Me too.' Hermione added.
'Ok then, come on Katie, let's leave these two to it.' The Quidditch players left to join George and Alicia on the dance floor, Fred aiming a completely conspicuous wink at Ron. Why are brothers such a pain? Ron wondered, hoping Hermione hadn't noticed. He'd had enough of the twins' remarks about her during the holidays. She was just a friend!
He turned to Hermione, who was looking at her drink. Sensing Ron's eyes on her, she looked up, and took a deep breath.
'Well, here goes nothing!'
She took a gulp of her drink, enjoying the slightly fuzzy sensation it created.
'Mmm, raspberry!'
She grinned at Ron, who couldn't help but grin back.