a/n1: Hello you lovely people! Since university will start next week again I decided to post as often as possible ;) And I posted a new story 'Postumo' which was inspired by many afterlife headcanons. viv-heart is as always my beta.
Also: trigger warning! In the second part there will be drug usage, to be precise they will smoke a joint. Don't like? Don't read, please :)
Hermione smiled brightly. She loved that everyone had come. Theo and Pansy had been delighted at the idea and Molly had insisted on cooking dinner. The whole Weasley clan was at Andromeda's.
At first Hermione hadn't been sure whether it was really a good idea to invite them, but as soon as Ron had mentioned the idea to his mother she had insisted to come. To 'make the poor boy feel welcome' she had said and proceeded to floo Andromeda to ask for Draco's favourite foods. And since she had also insisted on preparing the meal at Tonks Cottage she had been happy to take care of Teddy while the others were at the trial.
Directly after the sentence was announced Mr Weasley had sent a Patronus to Molly that they would be there soon. Molly had contacted Bill, Charlie and George who had come immediately. Ginny had already been there, forced to help her mother.
While Hermione had considered inviting Blaise, Ginny had argued against it. She feared how her brothers would treat him since they wouldn't want to hide their attraction. Hermione had to admit that it would be better to keep the tension low.
Draco didn't seem too happy about the glitter shower. George was taking pictures and while he was brushing off the tiny pieces of paper. Theo and Pansy were grinning widely and whispering to each other.
When Pansy caught Hermione looking at them she winked and put a finger on her lips. Hermione nodded and smiled.
Suddenly Draco's eyes became big and he stepped forward. "Pans? Theo?"
"The one and only," Theo answered with a smirk and Pansy just laughed.
"How? When?" Draco stammered while hugging them.
"Well, I met with Hermione yesterday and she asked whether I would like to join your surprise party. Of course I said yes," Pansy explained and Draco looked over to Hermione who just winked at him.
"And obviously her impertinent owl knew how to find me, so she wrote me and asked whether I was allowed to leave the Manor," Theo said. "She explained that they were planning a surprise party and I couldn't say no to that."
Draco narrowed his eyes. "Did you mention that I hate surprise parties?"
"Oh, yes, they did," Hermione said smiling innocently. "I didn't care though."
Draco rolled his eyes and shrugged. "Well, I suppose I will live. By the way, Theo I hope you organised the most important part of any party!"
Hermione frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Booze," Theo said and pointed to two bottles of Firewhiskey and a bottle of-
"Dragon's Breath?! Are you insane?!" Hermione cried. "Put that away or Molly will skin you alive!"
"Don't worry, 'Mione," George said from behind her. "It's charmed so it looks like Butterbeer to any disapproving adults."
"What?" she swirled around to face him. "How would you do that?"
George grinned at her, even though it didn't really reach his eyes it looked much more natural than any other smile she had seen from him in the last weeks. Then her mind registered that he was talking.
"-so you have to add in a thought sensitive charm, they are a bit tricky, but Fred and I," he stopped to swallow, "we managed them in our last year. Those daydream charms we use are a variation of this."
"That's impressing charm work," Theo remarked and George bowed with a smug smirk. "But maybe we should get Draco outside before Mrs Weasley gets impatient."
"No more glitter I hope!" Draco scowled and the others laughed.
"No more glitter, promised," Hermione said and took his hand to pull him outside.
As soon as they stepped out the door she let his hand go, but she smiled at him before she went to help Molly to arrange the tableware.
Ginny came to her. "Do you know any spell to turn any alcohol George puts into his glass into something else?"
"I'm afraid, no," Hermione said quietly.
"Damn, then we have to keep a close eye on him," Ginny sighed and Hermione nodded.
A few minutes later everyone sat down and Hermione found herself between Theo and Pansy. Theo was sitting next to Draco and Pansy had Harry to her left. Opposite of her Charlie sat down between Fleur and George.
Everyone dug in and in the first few minutes nearly nobody spoke. Molly was praised for her lovely cooking and Fleur cooed at Teddy. Bill seemed rather amused by his wife's behaviour.
When everyone had finished Andromeda vanished the leftovers of the meal and Molly stood up to levitate the cake from the kitchen onto the table.
"Draco dear, your mother told me you always loved pistachio cream cake," Mrs Weasley said while setting the cake down in front of him. "I hope you enjoy this one. When Ron told me about the surprise party they were planning for you I wanted to make sure that your favourite foods were served. I think we should celebrate your freedom and my family and I wish you all the best for your new start!"
Hermione watched how Draco blushed and whispered a quiet 'thank you'. She saw that the smile didn't really reach his eyes and he looked a bit thoughtful. Did he think he didn't deserve freedom? Hermione surely hoped he didn't.
After the very delicious cake had been served and eaten Andromeda brought the radio out and chose a station which played only music. Mr and Mrs Weasley left soon, followed by Bill and Fleur, and Harry and Ron.
The latter had assured him that they would stay if they could but they had to be at the Ministry early in the morning. Draco saw Pansy frowning at Harry, but he didn't really think about it.
His parents, Andromeda and Teddy were the next to excuse themselves and Hermione cast a Silencing Charm around the garden. That way they wouldn't have to mind their volume.
"When did you get so good at that charm that you can do it wandlessly?" Theo asked curiously while sipping his 'Butterbeer'.
"On the run," Hermione said, her voice rather distant. They had sat down around one end of the table with only eight of them being left.
"I'm sorry," Theo said, his voice hardly audible. Draco and Pansy looked rather troubled as well.
"It's alright. Originally I used it to study for my O.W.L.s when I had to be in the common room," Hermione joked. George and Ginny laughed at that, only the Slytherins seemed to be confused.
"Why would you need a Silencing Charm to study?" Theo finally asked.
"You have never been on a Gryffindor party, have you?" Charlie asked laughing.
All three Slytherins shook their heads. "Well, it is like a normal party, just louder and crazier. Now imagine how the day to day live would be for people like that," Percy said in annoyance.
"You have my complete and utter sympathy, Hermione," Draco said turning to her.
"It's not that bad! Just, the twins were nearly constantly testing their new sweets and that could get rather…messy," Hermione answered patting Draco's arm. "But I appreciate the thought."
"Do you know what would be really lovely now?" Pansy asked suddenly. "A nice French red-wine!"
"I'm afraid we have nothing like that," George said while checking his pockets jokingly.
"I know a muggle bar where they have something like that," Ginny offered reluctantly. "And don't you go and judge me, my beloved brothers! I know for certain that you two," she pointed at Charlie and George, "were pissed for the first time when you were sixteen!"
They both raised their hands in mock surrender. "We would never tell our little sister what to do!" George said.
"No, we have Ron for that," Charlie added and they high-fived while Percy pinched the bridge of his nose with two fingers.
"I'm not related to the three of you, not even remotely!" he exclaimed and everyone laughed, even Percy himself.
"So, how about a ladies night out?" Ginny asked when she had calmed down a bit. A smile was still playing at the corner of her lips.
Hermione and Pansy exchanged a glance and shrugged. "Sounds like a decent plan, I guess you two could crash at my place if it gets late," Hermione said and the three girls stood up, drinking the last of their real Butterbeer.
"Have fun!" Charlie called after them and then they were gone.
The five young men sat in a tense silence for a few minutes before Percy pulled out a pack of cigarettes and offered them to the others. They all accepted.
"I never took you for a smoker, prefect," Draco finally said.
Percy groaned. "Please don't remind me of how pompous I was at school."
"And after," George said quietly.
"And after," Percy admitted. "Sometimes I wish I had a time-turner so I could go back and shake my younger self to its senses."
"Who doesn't," Draco said taking a deep drag of his cigarette. When he had first smoked a cigarette he hadn't been sixteen yet. It had been the day after the battle in Department of Mysteries. He had sought refuge on the Astronomy Tower where he had met some older Slytherins. They had offered him one and he had taken it. He had coughed his lungs out, but after the first few drags of the second cigarette he had relaxed.
"Did you ever have a choice?" Charlie asked suddenly.
"No," Theo said, his voice hard and his shoulders taut. "Well, if we wanted to stay a part of our family tree at first, and later if we wanted to stay alive. He made it rather clear that 'disloyalty'," he said the word with venom, "would lead to our and our family's death."
"Or worse," Draco added. "The girls had it easier. They weren't expected to join or express any opinion. As long as they chose the right type of man, only a man mind you, everything would be alright for them."
"That sounds awful," Percy commented sincerely. "I was probably the only one being nearly disinherited for not joining the cause."
"Well, you're a Weasley, how dare you defy your parents?" Charlie said mockingly and Percy nodded his head gravely.
"And there is really no way that you are staying?" he asked.
Charlie shook his head. "No, not after what happened."
Theo looked between them curiously. "What happened?"
"Nothing, mother and I had a bad fight. I left for Romania the next day and she never truly forgave me," Charlie said with finality and the two Slytherin boys nodded.
"Theo, is the old hunting lodge still in one piece?" Draco asked when he had finished his fag and put it out. He vanished the rest so Andy wouldn't find it in the morning.
"Yes, you think about moving there?" Theo asked trying to sound as if they were talking about something more fancy than a shabby hut.
"Why, indeed I do," Draco answered and Charlie laughed.
"Sounds like a good plan, especially since I wouldn't want to smoke weed where any mother of ours could smell it," Charlie said casually.
Draco wondered why the lad would want to smoke garden pests but he shrugged it off.
They shrunk the table back into its normal size and brought everything inside. They decided to leave the fairy lights in the trees because it looked rather beautiful and went to the floo.
"Nott Manor!" Theo said loudly and vanished into the green flames. Draco waited until the Weasleys had left and followed them.
"The floo not working at the lodge?" Draco asked. "Wait, never mind."
"It's only connected to the house," Theo explained to the Weasleys and they nodded. They seemed a little awestruck by the Entrance Hall and even Draco had to admit that it looked impressing.
They flooed to the lodge and Draco noticed that Theo had obviously cleaned and repaired it since their last visit over Easter. And redecorated.
The group settled down in front of the fire and Charlie pulled out a small, square linen bag. He pulled two linen sacks out of it, small sheets of paper and what looked like cigarette butts.
"What are you doing?" Theo asked curiously.
"I am building a joint," Charlie answered, not taking his eyes from his work.
"What do you mean by 'joint'?" Percy asked frowning.
Charlie looked up with surprise. "You don't know what a joint is?" They shook their heads. "Have you ever heard of Marihuana?"
"That drug from Afghanistan?" George asked curiously sliding forward on his seat to take a closer look.
"Exactly," Charlie answered rolling the 'joint' between his thigh and his hand. "This stuff can make you happy or relax you, depends on the sort. It's bit hard to get the good stuff here in Great Britain though. Oh and you shouldn't really mix it with hard alcohol since it amplifies the impact."
"Good that I am not even tipsy yet," Theo said setting down his bottle, George laughed and did the same.
"So, what kind is the stuff you have?" Draco asked watching the gleam in his best friend's eyes with worry. Whenever they talked about going to the lodge he had had the same look, especially when it meant a hell lot of alcohol.
Charlie snapped his fingers and a flame appeared on the top of his index. He burned the point of the joint and took two or three pulls before he gave it to Percy who sat to his left. The former goody-two-shoes had slumped in the low armchair and put his head back when he breathed out.
When it was Draco's turn he already had an idea how it would taste, but it surprised him anyway. The taste was much sharper than he had expected. Another pull and he gave the joint to George.
Draco's head started to spin pleasantly. He felt himself relax, taking deeper breaths and sinking further into the armchair. He leaned back and just felt.
"You know, I don't think I felt this good since the end of fourth year," Theo finally murmured and Draco nodded.
"Now imagine working for the Ministry during that time," Percy said. He had opened the first two buttons of his oxford and it occurred to Draco that that would be an amazing idea.
"Well, at least you didn't have mom breathing down your neck, demanding that you believe Dumbles. As if there was anything not to believe. Not if you saw Harry afterwards," George said, a mocking smile marring his features.
"How did you even come across this stuff, Charlie?" Percy asked after a few minutes of very relaxed silence.
"Dragon-tamer isn't exactly a stress-free job. So whenever we had a bad day some of the older tamers would get out the weed. One of them taught me the how's and where's when he retired," Charlie said slowly. "And after the Battle they send me quite a package via owl since the Ministry doesn't control the import. By the way, it's forbidden in the muggle world, gods know why."
"They probably think it's devil's stuff," Theo joked and the others laughed.
"By the way, Theo," George spoke up and tried to sit straighter. "Why does your lodge look like a muggle pub?"
The black haired boy looked around as if he saw it for the first time. "I thought it would be more matching to be honest. My own private pub. Doesn't that sound amazing?"
The others nodded and they fell silent once again, enjoying the light-headedness. Draco wondered how long it would hold on.
Roughly an hour later he felt the high recede and became aware of a pang of hunger. He sat up straighter, opening his cuffs and rolling up the arms of his oxford.
"Anyone else hungry?" George asked and the others nodded.
"Cinny!" Theo called and a house-elf wrapped in a tea-towel popped into the room. It's eyes widened at the sight of five young men slumped in the armchairs at the fireplace.
"What can Cinny do for you, Master Nott?" it squeaked and Draco decided that Cinny was probably female.
"I would love those tortilla wraps you made once," Theo said and motioned for them to tell the elf what they wanted to have.
Percy asked for chocolate cake, George for shepherd's pie, Charlie asked for burgers and Draco decided on a raspberry cake. Cinny left and returned with their orders half an hour later. By then they were mostly awake again.
"D' you reckon it's safe to drink alcohol again?" George asked munching his pie.
Charlie seemed to think for a moment. "Maybe after you have eaten plus another half an hour."
"Splendid," Theo said and pushed nearly half of his wrap into his mouth.
"You eat like Weaselbee," Draco remarked with a smirk. Theo only flipped the bird at him.
"Weaselbee?" Charlie asked curiously licking mustard off his fingers.
"Your youngest brother's nickname in Slytherin," Draco explained since Theo was still chewing.
"Will have to remember that," George promised between two bites. "Fred'll-," he stopped talking.
Draco did something he hadn't expected. He put his hand on George's shoulder. "Fred probably laughs his arse off in the afterlife because two Slytherins and three Weasleys are chilling together. You have to admit it sounds like the beginning of a bad joke."
George smiled a bit. "You're right. Thank you."
"Only because I am- What is the smoking equivalent of pissed?" Draco asked Charlie.
"Baked," he replied after swallowing.
"I'm only right because I'm still baked," Draco finished his thought.
"Oh come on, stop that," Theo complained. "You're smiling way too smugly!"
"No, really, thank you, all of you," George said quietly. "I think this is the first good evening since…then. "
"Any time, mate," Draco said and the others nodded along.
"If you need to get away a bit you can always owl me and come over. All of you," Theo said leaning forward to give his words more emphasis.
And for the first time since what felt forever George smiled his old mischievous grin.
a/n2: Alright, I hope the second part didn't deter you! viv-heart came up with the idea and I liked it a lot. Charlie compromising the youth *giggles* Tell me in the reviews! :) Also happy Day of the German Unity!