Adrian's face puckered in disgust as he threw back the shot. He smacked the glass down onto the table and clutched at his throat before turning his head to look at Julian, poised nearby with a nervous expression on his face.

"Merlin that stuff is awful - you're a bloody genius mate!" he exclaimed as he clapped the prefect on the back.

"So it's good?" Julian was grinning like an idiot at the gathered seventh years.

"No, it's gods-awful stuff - but it's alcoholic and I haven't died yet. A brilliant success in my book!" Pucey was smirking now and Sheraton rolled her eyes. Julian pulled out a quill and a piece of parchment, charming it to record his interview with the Quidditch chaser.

"What was it like? I mean, was it similar to Ogdens? I'm still not sure about one or two of their ingredients..." Everyone in the room would've given their left arm for that idiot little Gryffindor to capture Julian's intent face as he peppered Adrian with questions.

"Can we please just get this thing started?" Jasmine's voice had a definite whine in it as and everyone turned to look at her in astonishment and annoyance.

"What do you think we're doing, Jas?" Julian looked scandalized by her obvious lack of comprehension.

"Jas, why don't you go and finish getting ready. That or sit down and shut up," Adrian was glaring at her openly, not having appreciated her input.

"Fine," her eyes narrowed at him dangerously. "'Lia do you want to come with? I believe you wanted to borrow my new angora jumper." Both girls left the Prefects' bedroom, off towards their own - not before Aemelia threw a sarcastic look back at Sheraton.

The males all turned to glare at her now - the blame for her friends' cluelessness obviously falling upon her.

"Oi! It's not my fault she acts like that. You think I can control her any better than Pucey? Jasmine is her own person with her own opinions, misinformed as they may be." She earned a dark look from the aforementioned male for that comment - and the same look, she was cheered to see, being directed at him by Julian. She quickly quashed that thought.

"Well, seeing as how my presence here is such a source of consternation - I'm going to go get ready myself." Sheraton blew a kiss at Julian and then sauntered through their joint bathroom into her own bedroom.

Neil had watched her swaying hips with an appreciative eye and his jaw dropped when he saw you could see clearly into her room from the doorway. "By the gods Ian! You share a bathroom with her, can wander into her bedroom any damn time you please - and you still haven't worked up the nerve to shag her yet! If Cordy plays hard to get much longer, I may beat you to it!" He looked quite shocked, almost disappointed in his friend.

"She's my bloody best friend Neil - I barely recognized her as a girl until last year. Besides, she doesn't have anything I haven't seen before," Julian busied himself dispensing the whiskey into bottles to evade the knowing looks of his friends. There was a great deal about Sheraton he had not seen - he had dreams about those veiled parts of her every night. But he wasn't about to throw himself into something before they had a long talk - a talk which she had been evading for two weeks now. He resolved to force her into a conversation tonight, perhaps when they both had enough alcohol in their system to be more honest than usual.

Miles snorted. "Sure Ian. Keep telling yourself that."

I will, Julian snorted internally. "Shut up you wanker and help me carry these bottles in." He hefted a box of half a dozen bottles filled with the amber liquid and Miles obediently grabbed another, Neil taking the third behind them as they strolled towards the common room.

Tonight was the ritual pre-party before the Quidditch game against Gryffindor the following morning. Restricted to fifth years and up, the younger ones restrained to their dorms as of eight, it was an opportunity for the players to relax after a grueling week of practices that had Montague being compared to the much maligned but still respected for his zeal, Oliver Wood.

When the girls finally made their way in, a good fifteen minutes later, Edward raised his glass full of the whiskey to the group.

"Well mates - here we are again. And I know that since the arrival of the boy we all wish hadn't lived, we've had some tough times. But tomorrow - that will all change. You know why? Because we have the most scheming Keeper ever in our midst. Because our chasers - including, I , your valiant and violent captain should any of you screw up tomorrow - are so in synch it's frightening. Because our beaters, well - you do your best tomorrow boys."

Jasmine rolled her eyes and tossed back her drink. They were screwed. Simple as that. She zoned back in as Edward's attempt at a speech was rising to a fever pitch.

"- our Seeker! Yes our seeker! The quickest ferret you'll ever see! He can find the Snitch in the deepest of this bloody fogs!"

Aemelia leaned over to whisper into Sheraton's ear, "I'd believe it more if I actually thought that Malfoy could find his own ass with both hands."

She unfortunately made this comment just as Sheraton had taken a drink of her whiskey, which she tried not to spit out as she laughed, Aemelia joining in.

Edward glared at the two, but didn't miss a beat. "We will WIN tomorrow! Or you're all dead meat. Hear me?"

A rumbling, inconsistent reply of "Aye Captain" and Edward nodded. "Right then. Have a good time men - but you're to be in your dorms by ten, bed by 10:30. And by that - I mean alone, my good buddy Julian here," there was a smattering of applause for the master bootlegger of the evening," will be doing bed checks then. Cheers!" And they all raised their glasses. Edward finished off his and turned, flinging it into the fire where it broke with a satisfying smash. He turned back - a drunken grin upon his face and he flopped onto the couch between Aemelia and Jasmine.

Jasmine didn't both to spare him a glance, as she was currently raising Adrian's spirits for tomorrow through a thorough examination of Adrian's tonsils. The group had congregated around the long couch in front of the roaring fire, the seventh years in the middle with sixth and fifth years on either side. A group of sixth year girls were standing in a small circle, drinking slowly from their watered whiskey and sending big eyed looks towards Miles, whom had become a minor sex symbol in the school since his conquest in Hogsmeade and Julian, though he didn't notice them at all as he was holding his glass up to the light and muttering to himself over the consistency and colour. As someone conjured a music charm Sheraton gave a disgruntled noise and grabbed his hand, pulling Julian onto the large crested carpet to dance to the latest Weird Sisters song. Jasmine was too occupied to notice but later, when the songs changed from up tempo to slow, Pansy had attached herself to Draco, clinging to him so tightly as they swayed that not a molecule of air could have existed between them. Julian and Sheraton too had drawn closer, Miles and Aemelia watching them as they playfully waltzed a few feet away.

Sheraton had drunk more than usual, relaxing for a rare evening as she had delegated any emergencies to the other prefects. She had laid her head upon Julian's shoulder, nose nuzzled into his neck and his face was inscrutable as he held her tightly to him.

Edward was trying to show Goyle and Crabbe the intricacies of a complicated play he wanted to introduce soon, having charmed some Zonko's chocolate covered flobberworms to zoom around as an example. The boys were watching the small pieces with intensity, but based upon the drool leaking out of the corner of Crabbe's mouth it was more for the edible rather than educational nature.

Aemelia nearly broke out laughing as Miles turned her around so she could see Chris off in a corner with two of the sixth year boys, who seemed to be playing some form of wizarding chess involving taking a shot of whiskey for every square moved. As his rook lumbered forwards, the pieces themselves now quite inebriated from the spilt drink upon the board, he lined up four shots with glee.

"Merlin, we're a sorry bunch," Aemelia murmured against Miles' shoulder.

He chuckled a bit. "What's wrong with having a bit of fun now and then? Even I get a bit tired of the scheming every once in a while."

Aemelia drew back to stare at him. "Who are you and what have you done with Miles Bletchely?"
"I just forced a couple of drinks down his throat," he grinned at her, dropping her into a dip.

She laughed as he pulled her back up, wrapping her arms more tightly around her neck. She caught sight of Sheraton and Julian, now barely moving to the melody as they spoke softly to one another, pausing occasionally for one to caress the other - whether it be a palm on the cheek or brushing aside a lock of hair.

"Miles?" she asked softly.

"Yes, 'Lia?" he replied.

"Why do we only have this for evenings?" she pondered to him. "I would've thrown myself a parapet had I been sorted into Hufflepuff or worse, Gryffindor but I look at them sometimes and can't help but wish."

"What would you want from them?" his voice was husky.

"I don't know. They just seem so much - happier than us. I mean, we act happy and content and smug, but it's acting. I don't think it is for them. Considering a Hufflepuff's ability to lie is nonexistent - it must be real. Don't you ever want to be happy? Or spend time with your friends and not hold anything back? To... relax?" she let out a long sigh. "I'm not making any sense, it must be the drink."

He squeezed her around the waist. "No, you're making sense. Life would be simpler if we were there - but it wouldn't be our life by any means. We belong here - as much as sometimes I wouldn't mind throwing Jasmine off that parapet you mentioned, we both belong here and in a sense we're a family because of that. We're a family here because of our families, and the affection they don't show us. We don't show it either - but we all understand each other. So we're on our toes - we're smarter because of it. I wouldn't want to be naive and neither would you. And just because we aren't always totally honest with one another - doesn't make our friendships any less real. If anything, we have the strongest relationships of all the houses. How many Hufflepuffs or Ravenclaws swear to help each other all their lives? Would give their lives for each other? We'd expect a fair monetary recompense for that kind of self less, stupid, action - but we'd do it."

Aemelia nodded, then looked up at him with dark eyes. "Do you ever wish you and I could be a couple? Like - them," she nodded significantly towards Sheraton and Julian, and beyond to where Cordelia and Neil sat, his hand mysteriously unseen though.

Miles gave her a look of horror. "No. Are you mad woman? I wouldn't have you be a social climbing bint or dead? Because in all honesty, one of us would kill each other in a relationship, and I'm frankly bigger."

"But I am sneakier," she countered playfully.

"That you are love, but I'd just throttle you in your sleep at some point. Hard to be sneaky when you're exhausted, you'd have to go to bed eventually." His twinkling eyes assured her his threat was only in jest - you never could be quite sure with Miles though. He shrugged, looking away. "Besides, I'm technically already engaged."

She raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? And how have I never heard of this? Are you carrying on some secret affair behind my back?"

He rolled his eyes, "Anything but. She's a girl from Durmstang, fourth year - some seventh cousin on my mother's side I think. They're Russian. She's supposed to be very pretty and obedient. Her family wants to build connections over here and are willing to shower my family with galleons to do it. She's younger than I, we won't be married at least until she graduates, should be easy to train her. It suits me frankly."

She gave him a long look. "Miles Bletchley, I think that has to be the most jaded thing I've ever heard come out of your mouth. I'm impressed, frankly." She giggled as he started to tickle her ribs and they danced on.

Soon, too soon in the opinion of most of the partygoers, it was ten o'clock and Edward stood up on the couch.

"Excuse me - 'scuse - OI! Shut up!" The din faded as most turned their attention to him. "Right then, Quidditch players - off to bed ya wankers!" No one moved until he swayed on his feet, pressing a hand to his forehead. "NOW!"

Grumbling, Crabbe and Goyle stood from their seat - waiting for Draco to de-suction himself from Pansy, which he did rather reluctantly. She gave a dramatic sigh as he did so, mirrored by her elder sister a few moments later, detaching her mouth from Pucey's neck.

Edward stood in front of the couch. "No grumbling, it's a big match tomorrow which we plan to win - remember? And when I say bed I do mean alone - very very alone!" He sauntered over to where Sheraton and Aemelia, both taking a break from their dance partners - Miles was currently teaching a sixth year with long brown ringlets the basics of a waltz among other things, were comforting Jasmine with a bottle of strawberry wine and giggling.

"Come wish me a bit of luck, 'Lia," he pulled her from the floor and circle of her friends. He wrapped his arms around her waist as she hugged him, rising up on her toes to brush a kiss against his cheek. Edward turned his head so that their lips met, softly. The kiss lasted for but a moment until he tried to coax her to move her lips and she pulled away.

"Don't do this, Ed," she murmured, her eyes weary.

"Do what?"

"This - it's not really what, or should I say who, either of us want."

"It could be," he ran a hand down to rest on her hip, the alcohol slurring his words slightly.

Aemelia shook her head and stepped away from him. "No it couldn't. How much of Julian's whiskey have you drunk?"

"A fair bit. Enough that I think I shouldn't have said anything."

A small smile fell on her lips, "No you shouldn't have. But no harm done. Go to bed, Ed."

"S'where I'm headed."

"Good night then," she turned and wandered back to where Sheraton and Jasmine had stretched out on the couch.

"'Night," he called back. He was thus the last player to file through the arch, nodding to Julian.

"I'll do rounds in about forty five," Julian called back. He looked down to Sheraton where she had suddenly snickered at a comment of Aemelia's.

Jasmine raised her head. "Oi! Neil, get your hand out from under Cordy's skirt. We can -hic- see her knickers!" At her recently acquired hiccups, the three girls collapsed in laughter.

Julian ran a hand along Sheraton's shoulder. "Ready for a bit of a talk, love?" he queried in a murmur.

She turned to look up at him, with hazy eyes but a bright smile. "Sure," she replied - letting him help her to her feet. She bid good night to her friends before they made their way back to their suite. She turned to look up at him, and leaned in to place a kiss against his jaw. "You're so sweet..."

Julian smiled down at her. Finally, they were getting somewhere. He led her into her own room and she stepped forward to fling herself onto the couch.

Sheraton sat up and crooked a finger, beckoning him towards her. "C'mere." When he had sat next to her, she grabbed his hand so that he sat as close as he could and crawled into his lap. "I wanna tell you something important, Ian. We can have that talk now - right?"

"Of course love, as long as you feel like this is the right time to have it," the state of her inebriation was suddenly very clear to him. Julian allowed her to squirm a bit in his lap before stilling her movements with an arm around her waist.

She waved a hand in the air. "Of course I do! Now - you're my very best friend, that's a given. But..." her eyes became even more unfocussed and she wobbled a bit before steadying herself on his shoulders. "I love you Ian."

A smile grew across his face. "I - uh, oh Sher." he spoke as she suddenly let go of his shoulders and slumped forward into an unconscious heap. He sighed, his mouth twisting. "Bloody brilliant, love - just bloody brilliant." He picked her up and walked to few feet over to her bed.

"You're meant for bed now. Boy, did you get off easy on that one." He gently placed her down and climbed in behind her, wrapping himself around her protectively. Screw rounds. Malfoy could have a bloody orgy for all he cared - he just wanted to lie here with here. Maybe just close his eyes for a minute before going to his own bed.

But his eyes grew heavy as he pressed a soft kiss to her neck. "I love you too." And he was as dead to the world as she.