Chapter 22

The elder Weasleys left the day before New Years to return to work, so by New Years Eve only the staff and students who had signed up to stay. The students, with the exception of the two Hufflepuffs who decided to party on their own, decided to gather in the Gryffindor common room. Crabbe and Goyle were still a bit nervous, as the others still didn't know them very well, but they trusted Draco and Draco said everything would be ok.

It was also time for the Staff New Years Party. As it was every year, it was held in the Staff Room. The walls were charmed to play soft music and the House Elves kept a ready supply of champagne and snacks.

An hour into the party saw Methos, Severus, and Minerva sitting by the snack table, drinks in hand, watching the others as they celebrated. Dumbledore was leading a conversation with Vector and Sprout about the students, well, gossiping about them, really. Who was dating who. What was cought with whom in the Astronomy Tower or the Library. Who the most unlikely couple is. Duncan and Cassandra were talking in Gaelic about old Scottland. Percy and Oliver had yet to arrive, mentioning something earlier about reconnecting with nature and disappearing beyond the Quidditch Pitch. Methos had murmured to Severus about them returning with grass stains and leaving behind some very excited wildlife, causing Severus to splutter his drink and Minerva, who had overheard, blinked wide-eyed for a moment before downing her drink in one gulp.

They did show up about an hour later, but without grass stains. The snow was too deep for that, anyway, and when one can call upon the winds for support, there is never any real reason to touch the ground. And the forest animals couldn't be happier.

***

Crabbe, Goyle, and Draco appeared in classic formation to the Gryffindor Tower, pausing at the painting of the Fat Lady.

"Hello, My Lady," Draco greeted, causing the painting to smile.

"Hello Draco. And who are these fine gentlemen?" she asked.

"This is Vincent," he pointed to Crabbe, "and this is Gregory," he said pointing to Goyle. "We're here for the New Years Party."

"Very good dear.," she said and the painting opened. Draco smiled. Crabbe grabbed his arm.

"Don't they have a password?" he asked quietly.

"Yes, they do," Draco said, "and it was changed for us for tonight and I said it and they let us in. Tomorrow it will be different again."

"Who thought of that?" Goyle asked. Draco rolled his eyes and he passed through the portrait hole.

"Harry."

"No wonder they do so well together," Goyle said. Crabbe rolled his eyes and grabbed Goyle's arm, pulling him through, following their prince into the Lion's Den.

***

Back in the teachers lounge the punch was beginning to go to their heads. It wasn't supposed to. It was just fruit punch.

That is, it was just fruit punch until Remus and Snuffles arrived. When they walked in, not many were surprised to see him addressing the dog.

"It's ok, Sirius. You're safe here. Tonight you can be you." Sirius stared at Dumbledore for a long time before a small pop was heard and Sirius Black stood before the assembled teachers. By the snacks Methos raised his glass and toasted the ex-convict. Sirius smiled back and raised two fingers to his head in a salute. He looked around at the others. Those who had seen him fight last year smiled. Those who hadn't stared, and he flinched back from their gazes. He drew up strait again, however, when Remus' hand pressed against his lower back. With his head held high, the lovers made their way over to their friends at the snack table.

Severus and Sirius stared at each other, hatred clearly visible and practically sizzling between them. The teachers watched with baited breath for the explosion. It never came.

Severus' lips twitched once, twice, and Sirius burst into giggles. Severus started to snicker. The two men shook hands and Sev pulled his former rival onto the seat next to him. Sirius looked about the room.

"Will they stare at me all night?" He asked quietly.

"Only until the punch kicks in," Remus said quietly from behind. Sirius turned to look at him.

"The punch?" Remus grinned wolfishly. Sirius' eyes widened. "You spiked the punch!" He whispered harshly."

"Shhh," was all Remus replied as he placed a finger to his lips. Minerva looked up from her drink. She raised her glass.

"It's good to know all that pranking would come to good use. It'll be good for those stiffs to loosen up a bit."

"Amen to that," Methos said and they drank on it.

***

Harry met his boyfriend with a kiss and gestured for the other two boys to come foreword.

"Come in, sit by the fire. We raided the kitchen for snacks and we have cards for snap, boards for chess, and chairs for just sitting around and talking."

To say Crabbe and Goyle were surprised by Harry's warm welcome wouldn't be entirely true. Draco had prepared them, but seeing it in person was quite another thing. When they reached the fireplace they were greeted by smiles, even a nervous one by Neville, which got even more nervous when Goyle sat next to him on the plush love seat. Harry, Draco, and Crabbe sat on the big couch across from him, well, Harry and Crabbe were on the couch. Draco was on Harry. Ron and Hermione shared an armchair and Ginny sat on the floor near the fire.

The conversation revolved around Professional Quidditch, with Ron stubbornly defending his team, the Chudley Cannons. AS it turned out, Crabbe was also a big Cannons fan, causing Hermione to roll her eyes and sigh in exasperation, causing Ron to poke her in defense and her to squeak.

Goyle looked down surprised when he felt a small weight on his leg. There was a little green toad sitting there.

"Trevor!" Neville exclaimed as he pounced on the frog, and consequently, Goyle's leg. Trevor lept away and Neville overbalanced and would have fallen off the couch, if Goyle hadn't caught him last minute, pulling him up onto his lap.

"Allright, then?" Goyle asked. Neville nodded.

"Yes," He smiled sheepishly at Goyle. "Thank you, Goyle."

"Call me Greg."

"Thank you Greg." Neville smiled that nervous smile. "Will you help me find Trevor?"

"Sure," and the two boys spent well over an hour looking for the toad and talking.

***

'Older men and women dancing drunkenly.' Methos smirked into his glass. 'I can't decide weather it's amusing or depressing.' What he saw out of the corner of his eye almost made him spit out his drink.

"When did 'Nerva get up to dance? Better yet, when did she learn the Hamster dance?"

"Sirius and Remus. Apparently, it's a big in parts of America. That Japanese animation, Anime? Has really taken over American pop culture."

"Oh."

Pause

"Do you know the Hamster dance?"

"No."

"Oh."

"Want me to tea-"

"NO!"

Methos smirked and returned to his drink.

***

Greg finally captured Trevor and Neville put him away. When they returned to the fireplace they realized the countdown had begun. They sat, but this time, there was less space between them.

10

In the teacher's lounge the teachers all gathered around the large Grandfather's clock. The couples gravitated together and stood close. Methos smiled when he felt Severus' arms about his waist.

9

Hermione reached up and pulled Ron into a kiss Ginny saw and grinned.

"Aren't you supposed to wait for the New Year?" She started to cackle when Ron's only reply was to flip her off muggle style.

9

Percy and Oliver were semi-hiding in the corner, already "celebrating" the New Years.

"Didn't those two get enough earlier?"

"Would we have?" Don't throw stones."

"...grr..."

7

Draco snuggled down into Harry's arms and laid his head and face down into Harry's chest. Unseen by the blond, Harry smiled tenderly at the top of his head and tightened his arms.

6

Minerva threw her head back to finish her drink and for the first time in ten years fell off her stool.

5

Ginny looked around at all the happy couples in the common room including 'Neville and Goyle?' and looked at Crabbe, who smirked. She shook her head ruefully and went back to the count.

4

Cassandra came up and latched onto Duncan, who smiled and put his arm around her shoulders.

3

Dumbledore looked at his teachers, all of them finally happy.

2

Draco raised his head and looked into Harry's eyes. Snape turned Methos' head to look strait at him.

1

Happy New Year.

TBC

Tea - what wonderful ideas you have.threesomes.hmm.maybe. She will turn to adults for comfort, but she needs someone her own age as a friend. That'll happen within the next few chapters, so keep your eyes open. ;)

Lady Cinnibar - I have aim. Is that the same thing? I'm not sure. But if u want to im me, go ahead. It's Scarletjedi. I love writing Methos/Duncan banter. It's just so much fun. Hufflepuffs like everybody. They had no problems and really have the highest gay population in Hogwarts. Why, cause I said so. As for the corrections.uh.yeah, I knew that (looks around sheepishly. Yeah, well, I'll go back and fix it when the trillogy's done. Just, uh, ignore that little bit.heh heh) I hope you get your head on correctly soon. You never reviewed chapter 20. and now you have two more! I also have a new side project, in the x-men-evolution section, called the Book of Wagner. It's all about Nightcrawler and his eventual relationship with Scott. If u watch the show, you know where I'm coming from. It also deals with his balancing his religious duties (he's a priesnt ya know) and being an x-man. Anyway, your pooka must go write. Ta!

Aurulumpi - I do huge chunks cause when a story hasn't been updated in a long time, I want to read a lot more. One chapter wouldn't be enough for me, so I try to post more than one at a time. From now on, cause now I'm writing as I type it up (it's all caught up) it will be one chapter at a time. I chose the Ravenclaws because they always seemed so snotty, and the Slytherins follow Draco, so they can't give him problems, and I needed a protagonist.

I was, am, and will always be, immortaljedi