-1Harry entered Ron's and Draco's apartment holding Oliver's pickle tub. Inside was full of food, from bananas to some Captain Crunch.
"I even got some fire wood!" Harry told the boys.
"Look it's Santa, Draco!" Ron exclaimed. Draco didn't make a movement at the name of his friend. He just sat in his chair looking as glum as ever.
"Hold your applause why don't ya?" Harry told him.
"Oh hi." Draco said without the second glance at what used to be a great friend to him. He was still in shock after the incident with the girl downstairs.
" 'Oh Hi' After 7 months?"
"Sorry" Draco fakely apologized.
"I think this boy could use some vodka!" Harry pulls some Stoli out of the pickle tub. The boys are shocked at such a fine gift.
"Did you strike gold at EMI?" Draco asked, now excited about the arrival of his friend.
"No they expelled me for my theory of Actual Reality. Which I will be giving over to the wonderful people at our wonderful Hogwarts. Since they haven't gotten to me yet."
"I was waiting for you, don't you know?" Draco said to Harry.
"Well tonight after Lavender's show lets head to the the Life café." Harry purposed.
"No cash, man!" Ron told him.
"Gentlemen, our benefactor on this Christmas eve, who's charity is only matched by talent I must say. A new member to the Alphabet City Avant Guard, Angel Oliver Wood!" Harry announced. A man dressed in a spectacular drag outfit that is a mix of Santa and zebra stripes he comes in with a stack of $20 bills.
"Today for you, Tomorrow for me!" He announced.
"And you should hear her beat!" Harry told her.
"You earn this playing on the street?"
"No! It was my lucky day today on Avenue A when a lady in a limousine drove my way. She said, Hunny, be a dear, haven't slept in a year. I want your help to make my neighbor's yappy dog disappear. This Akita, Evita just won't shut up, I bet if you play nonstop this pup will breath its very last high strung breath. I'm certain that dog will bark itself to death! Today for you, tomorrow for me! So we agreed on a fee a thousand dollar guarantee tax free and a bonus if I trim her tree. Now who could say that it would go so well, but sure as I am here that dog is now in doggy hell. After an hour Evita in all her glory on the window ledge of that 23rd story. Like Thelma and Louise did when they got the blues, swan dove into the crossroads of the Gracie Muse." She took out her drumsticks and continues the story banging on the surfaces around the apartment. Oliver was incredibly talented at playing and the boys were in shock. And for a moment Draco remembered the name Evita but he pushed the thoughts aside and continued to listen.
"So I went back on the street where I met my sweet, he was moaning and a groaning on the cold concrete. So I took him home to take care of his wounds and get him back on the street." Oliver finished his story and sat down on the couch by Harry. Draco and Ron had to laugh when they heard what really happened to their friend, even though it was terrible. The group enjoyed themselves awhile before it was time for them to go their separate ways. Ron was out to help Lavendar and Harry and Oliver were heading to their meeting. Draco was just heading downstairs to talk to his buddies. When they got downstairs they saw an unfortunate sight. Blaise in the road with his range rover just parked in the middle of the street.
"Joy to the World!" He sang, happy about his new plan. A homeless man had taken a place sitting on the hood of his Rover. "Hey you bum! Yeah you. Get your arse off my Range Rover! Now!"
"Its that type of attitude to the homeless that Lavender is protesting tonight!" Ron told him. He moved his camera to face Blaise and started rolling. "Close up on Blaise Zambini the second, our ex-roomate who married Pansy Parkinson of the Liverpool Parkinson's and then bought the building and the lot next door from his father-in-law in hopes of starting a cyber studio."
"Lavender is protesting the fact that she's losing her performance space, not my attitude!" Blaise shot back.
"What happened to Blaise? What happened to his heart? And the things he used to love?" Ron asked.
"I am the owner of that lot next door and I am able to do how I please with it."
"Happy Birthday Jesus." Harry commented.
"The rent."
"You are wasting your time. We're broke." Ron and Draco told him.
"And you broke your word, which is just wrong!" Ron said.
"Next door is the future home of cyberarts. Now that the block is re-zoned our dream can come true! You'll see boys. A state of the art studio that takes the wonders of both the worlds, magic and muggle. I will let you free of the rent if you do just one thing." Blaise explained.
"What?" Ron had to ask.
"Make Lavender cancel her protest. That's all it takes boys!"
"Why not just call the cops?" Draco asked.
"I did. But my investors would rather I handle it quietly."
"You can't wipe out an entire tent city without it getting loud!" Ron almost yelled.
"Do you want to produce songs and films? For both of the worlds to see? Then you are going to need a place to do it! It's what we used to dream about back in school. The wonders of a studio that lets us do our work and get paid. With condos on top whose rent helps keep us open. All you have to do is get Lavender to cancel her protest. You can have it made. Or you can pack your choice." Blaise left the tent city and the friends could just stare at eachother.
"That boy could use some prozac!" Angel yelled.
"Or some drugs." Rodger suggested.
"Maybe some group hugs?" Ron added.
"That reminds me we have a detour to attend. Anyone can come along." Harry told the group.
"It's a life support meeting for people coping with life who don't have to much time left." Angel Oliver explained.
"Sorry I got a protest to save." Ron explained.
"Well okay. Draco?" Angel asked.
"I am not the greatest company."
The group all headed their different ways. Ron heads into the lot and walks inside the performance spot. There is a girl that he hadn't seen for a long time. He didn't even recognize her. She was messing with cables mumbling something about why did she go to university for this. He keeps moving toward the stage and the woman turns around.
"Ron?" Hermione asked.