Last minute decisions and preparations lead to the Chess Club celebrating a great year with a party in the Bower.
Song : What Are You Doing New Year's Eve by Ella Fitzgerald
Neville: Where did I put the power cord?
Luna: Look in the cabinet behind the ivy at the back of the Bower
Neville:?
Luna: Remember, there is an old wardrobe at the back of the Bower that people can use a a backdrop and you use for storage
Neville: Why would I put the power cord there?
Luna: Because that is where the power supply is. Why are you so nervous?
Neville: I am not nervous
Luna: They will love what you have set up. Come in and warm up.
Neville: I need to get this done
Luna: It will still be there after a cup of tea.
Neville looked around the Bower. Luna was right. He should not be this nervous about tonight's party. It was just the Chess Club. But tonight was about more than New Year's Eve. It was about starting traditions. He couldn't afford to mess it up.
Time to run through the checklist one more time. Thermal sheets were hanging in each of the archways to keep the heat in. Thermal sheets had been draped from the chandelier at the center of the Bower to the archways to keep any weather from joining the party. Heaters were placed under tables and ready to be turned on an hour before the party was supposed to begin. Tables and chairs were arranged around the Bower so everyone could get to food, drink or conversation. Fairy lights made the ceiling look like the night sky and there were lamps around the edges of the Bower so it wasn't completely dark. The table was set up for the video equipment Ron had brought earlier in the day. Luna was right. It was time for a cup of tea.
Luna: If he doesn't stop going out to the Bower to check on one more thing, I'm going to tape him to a chair
Daphne: You are not allowed to tape people to chairs, sweetie
Luna: He is going to drive me daft with all his pacing and muttering
Daphne: I thought you were baking
Luna: I am trying too
Daphne: But …
Luna: Who can concentrate with him going in and out the back door or talking through his check list for the 5th time
Daphne: Get him to help you bake
Luna: Maybe
Daphne: It is that or strip chess
Luna: Seriously … We don't have time for that
Luna laughed as she slid her mobile into her pocket. Neville's nervousness was starting to wear off on her. She had two dozen more cupcakes to get made and decorated before she got ready for the party. Leave it to Daphne to suggest something to distract Neville's nerves that distracted her from her baking. She really need to get this baking done. What kind of New Year's Eve party would it be without champagne cupcakes?
Daphne: Where are you?
Theo: Stuck in traffic
Daphne: What are you wearing tonight?
Theo: I have no idea. Why?
Daphne: I'm getting ready to step in the shower
Theo: Why did you tell me that?
Daphne: You asked
Theo: What does you getting in the shower have to do with what I am wearing tonight?
Daphne: I was laying out what I am going to wear and I thought I would lay out yours too
Theo: Jeans and a jumper?
Daphne: Okay … I'll set it out for you
Daphne rummaged through their closet looking for her favorite bulky sweater. She had found jeans and a nice jumper for Theo, but she could not find the sweater she wanted. If she didn't get a shower soon, there was no way she was going to be ready when they needed to leave. She was going to have to give up on the idea of her bulky sweater and just grab one of Theo's jumpers if she didn't find it soon. It was just the Chess Club at the Bower tonight. What she was wearing to celebrate was not as important as who she was celebrating with.
Theo: Mate, I need help
Ron: What did you forget?
Theo: Nothing. I am just running behind because I am caught in traffic
Ron: Are you driving? You only have one good arm right now
Theo: The car has speech to text
Ron: Even so
Theo: I just need you to download something on to Nev's computer when you get there
Ron: I'm not sure about that
Theo: It's nothing bad. Just some clips of events from the year
Ron: I thought the girls had something like that put together already
Theo: Do you really trust them to be balanced?
Ron: This is true … Send me the link when you get home
Theo: Thanks!
Ron: Be careful. One trip to emergency for you is more than enough this month
Theo pulled into the drive in a rush. He needed to get to his computer and send Ron the media file he had created last night. He had heard Daphne plotting a "highlight" video for the party tonight and thought there should be a even representation of the last year for the Chess Club. He did not trust the girls to show everything. Embarrassing memories needed to fall beside beautiful ones, just like sad moments needed to happen to highlight the happy ones. Theo breathed as sigh of relief as he entered the cottage and heard the shower running. Sitting down at his computer, Theo got lost in final edits and was surprised by a pair of small hands over his eyes.
"Are you almost ready?" Daphne asked as she tried to see what Theo was working on. We need to leave soon if we are going to get to the greenhouse on time.
"I'll go clean up in a minute. I need to get this sent to Ron before we go." Theo turned in his chair and kissed each of her palms. "Give me twenty minutes and we can go."
Ron: Are you okay?
Hermione: I'm fine. Stop worrying.
Ron: Don't think I can do that
Hermione: I am not going to break or disappear
Ron: Promise
Hermione: I'm taking a nap and you are 2 rooms away
Ron: I still worry
Hermione: Come check on me then
Ron: You are taking a nap
Hermione: Come join me
Ron leaned on the doorframe of their bedroom and smiled. Hermione was curled up in nest of blankets in the center of their bed, He reached in his pocket and pulled out his mobile. Making sure the flash was off, Ron snapped a picture of the scene before him. He was a lucky man. He had the love of his life in his bed and his future under her hand. Ron pushed a few more icons on the screen on his mobile and laid it down on the bedside table. A thirty minute nap with his family was the next item to complete on today's "To Do" list. Curling around his sleeping wife, Ron laid his hand over hers on her growing baby bump. A nap was a good thing before the excitement of New Years Eve.
Hermione: We are going to be late
Ginny: What's up?
Hermione: We took a nap
GInny: Really?!
Hermione: Not your kind of nap
Ginny: Sure you didn't
Hermione: He thinks I need to rest every five minutes
Ginny: He is going to hover
Hermione: Make him stop
GInny: Nope
Hermione: I hate you
Ginny: No you don't
Hermione: Was Harry this bad?
Ginny: They all are
Hermione giggled as she snapped a photo with her mobile. Ron was still sleeping, but they need to leave soon. She walked into the kitchen to make sure all the snacks they were taking were packed and ready to go. She was glad he had talked her into a nap and then decided to join her. He had been working longer hours during the holidays. A tired and stressed Ron was not a fun Ron to live with. They really needed a few days to just relax and be Hermione and Ron without the rest of the world peaking in on them.
"Hmmm, what time to we have to be at Nev's?" Ron's sleepy question tickled her ear as he laid his chin on her shoulder.
"In about ten minutes." Hermione sighed. "I guess we should get ready and go. I let Ginny know we would be running late."
"We might need to be ready for nap jokes." Ron kissed her cheek and chuckled. "Turnabout is fair play."
Ginny: I need sleep
Harry: We can stay home
Ginny: No, I am not missing this
Harry: We can be late if you need a nap
Ginny: I do not need a nap
Harry: Why not
Ginny: Because, I'm fine
Harry: We can leave early if we need to
Ginny: Not on your life. I am going to enjoy my New Years Eve
Harry: If you insist
Ginny waited for Harry at the door to the greenhouse. He had gone to park the car but she did not want to enter the party without him. He needed to hurry and park because she was getting cold. Neville had promised all the girls that the Bower would be warm but she had dressed in layers just to be on the safe side. Stamping her feet, Ginny looked at the door she was about to enter.
"Private Party. Happy New Year" decorated the sign that hung in the front window. It looked like Luna had been busy with more than just her baking skills today. Both Luna and Neville had sent her messages today about little things for the celebration tonight. She didn't think she had every texted "It will be fine" more times in a week than she had today. She couldn't wait for the boys to see the "Year in Review" video she and the girls had put together. Everything was coming together and tonight was going to be a beautiful way to end the year.
Harry: Just parking the car
Neville: Everything is set up in the Bower
Harry: Breathe Nev
Neville: I'm trying
Harry: How is Luna?
Neville: Trying to remember to breathe
Harry: Stop messing with the stuff in the Bower
Neville: How did you know?
Harry: I know you
Neville: Am I that bad?
Harry: No … you just like it perfect
Neville: I guess
Harry: Go check on Luna and get warm
Neville: She threw me out of the kitchen
Harry: Did you stick your finger in the icing?
Neville: Maybe …
Harry: See you soon
Harry smiled as he wrapped the scarf around his head tighter. He had been with Neville earlier today to make sure the heating was going to work but Luna had sent him packing when she started to hang fabric around the space. "Go help Ginny get James ready. You know she will spend the whole party fretting if she doesn't have him settled with her mum before you rush over her." Luna said as she pushed him out of the Bower. Chuckling at the memory, Harry approached Ginny.
"What took you so long?" Ginny asked as he reached for the door handle. "Did you have to park in Siberia or something?"
"No, just had to tell Neville to breathe and check on Luna." Harry continued to chuckle as he pulled open the door and escorted Ginny towards the Bower. "I think we are the first one here and both of them are fretting over things. Let's go help them settle into hosting this party."
"Maybe it's much too early in the game ...Oh, but I thought I'd ask you just the same ..."
Ella Fitzgerald's voice greeted each couple as they walked towards the Bower. Neville fiddled with the computer beside the projector set up at the back of the Bower while Luna rearranged plates and bowls of snacks laid out on tables around the room. "Neville, do you have a minute?" Ginny's voice called from the entrance. "I have something to load on that computer and I might need a little help."
Luna looked up from her straightening and smiled "You two are the first ones here. Harry, I need to get a few more things from the back room. Can you help me out?"
Harry glanced over his shoulder to check on Ginny and Neville. "Sure, Luna. Lead the way. I'll consider it practice for tomorrow."
"Maybe I'm crazy to suppose … I'd ever be the one you chose …"
Theo looked over his head as he and Daphne stopped in the entrance to the Bower. Dropping a kiss on her cheek, Theo squeezed Daphne's hand before letting it go. "Thank you."
"For what?" Daphne looked around, confusion in her eyes. "We are spending the evening with friends and you just kissed me under mistletoe that I'm sure Luna hung just for that purpose."
"Thank you for being who you are and letting me be who I am." Theo nipped her bottom lip and pulled away. "And for not running screaming in the other direction when I asked you out the first time."
"Thank you for asking, Chess man." Daphne ran a finger along his nose and chin. "Broken arm and all, this has been a grand adventure I am not ready to end. Now, let's find our friends and have some fun."
"Oh, but in case I stand one little chance … Here comes the jackpot question in advance …"
Ron was having trouble seeing for the tears running from his eyes. The "Year in Review" video the girls had put together had them all in stitches. Funny moments and pictures of things they had done together or as couples filled the twenty minute movie. The girls had also included some of the serious and scary moments. It was a tradition they would have to continue next year. There were pictures he had not seen before and clips of moments he would never forget. He hoped that they had made copies of the video for everyone to take home and watch again.
"Having fun, love?" Ron asked as he pulled Hermione against his chest. "I think I will frame that shirt and jumper from the white elephant party to hang in the nursery. The looks on their faces was priceless."
Hermione leaned back and kissed his cheek. "Only if I get to hang the picture of you and Harry playing Go Fish with it. This has been an amazing year."
Ron looked around the Bower at his family and friends. "That it has, love. I cannot wait to see what the next year will bring."
"What are you doing New Year's … New Year's Eve …"
Laughter filled the Bower as the couples watched both "Year in Review" videos. Neville looked at his watch and then across the Bower to Luna. With a lift of his eyebrow to get her attention, he headed out of the Bower, towards the kitchen they used for Tempest in a Teapot. Luna's small hand slipped into his as she joined him. "Is it time?" her voice was quiet in the dark.
"Yup. The glasses and bottles are chilling in the kitchen. All we have to do is bring them to the Bower." Neville kissed her cheek as they continued to walk towards the kitchen.
Ten minutes later, Neville and Luna returned to their friends with trays of sparkling grape juice in champagne glasses. "It is that time again." Neville's voice filled the Bower as everyone gathered in a circle.
"Time for what, Nev?" Theo asked, wiping tears from his eyes and reaching for a glass.
"Time to bid fair the well to one year," Harry started to speak.
"And welcome to another." Ron finished Harry's thought like they used to during their school days.
Everyone laughed and took a glass from the trays Luna and Neville were holding. "Does anyone have the time?" Ginny looked around at her family, by blood and by choice.
"11:55." Luna spoke up as she set her tray on the table closest to her.
"Just enough time to get in a toast before the clock strikes." Hermione smiled and took a deep breath.
"To memories" Hermione raised her glass.
"To beginnings" Luna reached for Neville's hand as she tipped her glass.
"To old friends" Harry touched his glass to Ron's.
"To new relationships" Theo bumped Daphne with his cast.
"To new adventures" Ginny looked around the circle they had formed.
"To never ending promises" Daphne clinked her glass against Theo's.
"To dreams." Ron touched Hermione's rounded stomach as he raised his glass.
"To forever." Neville lifted his glass towards the center of the Bower.
"To Chess Club." Eight voices echoed through the Bower as a clock struck midnight in the distance. The perfect end to a beautiful year.