A/N: Yes.
News of the party spread through the halls with the speed that Reese O'Malley's gossip usually traveled. Meaning nearly everyone knew about it in the space of an hour, excepting teachers. Actually, Professor Esquiline probably had a clue about it, being Slytherin's head of house and all, but word was that she had a date with Dorny that night. As such, she wouldn't be around to supervise, especially if the other Professor Flavian found out. Winston Taft suspected that Professor Berkeley knew too, which lead to insistent warning about his premonitions of doom, but the rest of the school dismissed his intuition as the ramblings of an unstable mind.
Whether or not the Slytherins had actually meant for word of the Christmas party to spread or not was a different, and entirely boring story that neither the Saints nor the Icemen cared to hear. All they could think about was what they were going to wear, including the boys. Most of the school found out the day before break, so for many it was too late to change plans made long before. Even Quant was sucked into going to Bulgaria with his family for looked as though it might be a stellar Quidditch play off.
"How annoying for you," Prue teased, "Missing a party in Slytherin for what might be the best Quidditch final in the past thirty years."
"I don't care for Quidditch, Gelliston," Quant waved a hand in the air dismissively.
"Oh, please," Bobby rolled his eyes, "He's excited. Fortune's going with him."
Bobby was also leaving for the break, to go snowboarding with his older brother. Explaining the point of snowboarding had been harder for Prue, Frank, and Bobby than many of the other things they'd had to tell their un-mugglewise friends.
"Hmph," Quant huffed, "I'd rather go to Bulgaria with Fortune than go snow bumbling with you and your over-zealous brother."
"You've never met my brother, mate," Bobby grinned, "I think you'd like him."
"I've met your brother," Casey interjected, "And I thought the dude was crazy," he circled a finger near his temple, "Whacked out."
"Look who's talking," chirped Serendipity.
Personally, Prue would have much rather gone snowboarding, despite the fact that she didn't know how, than spend the night with some sleazy Slytherins. She had plans, initially, but they had fallen through when her father booked an appointment with the Prime Minister of some country no one had ever heard of. Of course, it wouldn't be that bad. Elanore, Serendipity, Casey, Frank, and Sylvester would be around to make things fun, as would Dana, Atlanta, and the entirety of Dark Symphony. Cerulean and Cherridy were going back home, both royally pissed off that Casey wasn't accompanying them.
"So, Hargrove, why are you staying?" Bobby inquired, twisting his wand between his fingers and shooting Prue suspicious looks, "Hoping to get some private time with Prue?"
Bobby was still a bit miffed about the rumors Reese had started.
"Actually," Casey stood from the couch he and Quant had been sharing, "I have an announcement to make."
"What?" Frank asked nonchalantly, "Your leg hair grew back from that explosion in Potions?"
"Nope," Casey pulled up a pant leg, "Still smooth as a baby's bottom. This is better," he paused for the dramatics.
"Get on with it," Prue threw a Bertie Bott's bean at him. She thought it was vomit flavored, but Sylvester picked it off the ground, stuck it in his mouth, and said, "Mm, sardines."
Serendipity, Elanore, and Prue exchanged disgusted looks.
"Fine," Casey crossed his arms and looked straight at Prue, "I have a date for the Hogsmeade weekend."
"Really?" Quant didn't look very surprised, "Old news, Garnet's been telling- oh, everyone?"
"You have a date with Garnet Sanford? In Gryffindor?" Bobby demanded, leaning forward on his chair, "Why didn't you tell me?"
"You didn't ask," Casey said simply, eyes still on Prue. She refused to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. Instead, she sat still, as she had before, legs crossed, hands in her lap, eyes watching the clock as though she were counting down the minutes till her darling Cerulean left for home.
Frustrated, Serendipity jumped up, "I thought," she lowered her voice, "I thought you fancied someone else." Very inconspicuously, she glanced at Prue, who had yet to give an opinion.
Smoothly, Casey replied, "Nope. I decided it was time to grow up, to be a man, to-"
"Get some action?" Sylvester suggested meekly, making puppy eyes at Elanore.
"Exactly," the redhead nodded, satisfied, "Exactly my point. Garnet Sanford is one of the hottest chicks in Gryffindor and," Casey emphasized the word, "She totally digs me."
"Exemplified by the fact that she told everyone about your damned date. Fortune was so excited that she cancelled ours," Quant muttered, disgruntled.
"Are you taking her to the party?" Sylvester asked.
"As soon as I get my invite. Hey, Prue-"
"No," Prue answered promptly, tonelessly.
"Aww, you didn't even let me ask the question," Casey whined, running over to where she sat and placing his head on her knee. Suspecting he was looking up her skirt, Prue lightly pinched his ear.
"You wanted to know if I would ask Dirk if you could come," she said sensibly, feeling a little miffed that he hadn't told her about Garnet, "But he hates you, and he'll say no. So I'm saving you the trouble and pain. Ask someone else. Ask Tisiphone, the dominatrix type in Dueling, she's been making eyes at you."
And, she wanted to add, what was all that crap you fed me before? About being real and- she stopped her thoughts. Thinking about that was going to get her nowhere. She did not like Casey, she liked Cerulean. And Noah Weslen, for that matter. Even if she and Cerulean ever broke up, there would still be Noah to go after. Despite her mind's weak protests, Prue was still mad. More than mad, furious. Yet she knew Casey would just goad her on if she showed him how angry she was; it was better to stay quiet.
"Come on, Prue," Casey continued whining, "You could use your feminine charms to seduce him into an invite."
"I've already been invited," Prue said icily, "As have Serendipity and Frank."
"Frank?" Casey asked quizzically, "Why not Elanore?"
"Cardinal Briallen invited me," Elanore put in, "He was one of Rufus's friends, and I think he liked me before he took up with Peregrine."
"Dirk wants to check out the competition for Dana," Prue shrugged, "Who am I to discourage young love?"
"I do not like Dana," Frank protested indignantly.
Ignoring him, Casey replied, "You do it with me all the time."
"Oh please," Prue started angrily, "Don't pretend you like me. After all, Garnet might get jealous."
"She might," Casey said, "But what if I'm using her to make you jealous?"
"Then you're incredibly stupid. Garnet is one of my friends," she recalled pretty, wine haired Garnet Sanford, who was sweet and nice and everything Prue aimed not to be, "And I would never take a guy from a friend. Especially you."
Prue had almost started to believe that Casey liked her that night on the Astronomy tower. She had almost started to believe that she fancied him as well, despite Cerulean. Now she wasn't sure whether she was madder at him for tricking her, or herself for having disloyal thoughts by falling for it. Sure, consistent teasing on Elanore and Serendipity's part for the past couple of years had contributed, so Prue opted to mad at them as well. She didn't know why she was so riled up, but she wasn't going to calm down for a while yet.
"Er," Casey started, scratching his chin thoughtfully, "Good thing I'm not using her to make you jealous, then. I really like Garnet."
The blonde felt like she'd been slapped in the face. Casey really liked Garnet. Naturally he'd just been friendly these past few years, especially these past few months when he constantly flirted with her. When he almost kissed her. Casey had just felt like having fun, like he always did, and Prue was his strictly platonic playmate, it seemed.
"Good," Prue said stiffly, "I'm happy for you. I wish- I wish you'd told me sooner."
Elanore, Serendipity, Frank, and Sylvester were watching them go back and forth as though they were playing Quidditch. Bobby was too happy that Casey didn't like Prue to care about the conversation, and Quant seemed lost in his own little lala-Fortune land.
"Sorry," Casey didn't really look sorry.
"There's a lot of things you don't tell me," Prue said sadly, wishing that he did tell her more. The sudden urge to know everything about Casey had popped up a lot these past couple of days.
"Like what? Just this," he smiled tranquilly, satisfied that she wasn't trying to kill him in rage or anything. Usually, he would be disappointed, she thought sorrowfully.
Casually, she thought of the things Cerulean had told her about his little brother that had surprised her, "Well," she paused, "Like that you wear glasses."
"Who told you that?" Casey demanded, upset.
"Who else? Your brother," Prue responded, wondering why he looked so upset.
"He promised me he wouldn't mention that."
"I don't think he meant to," Prue said, confused, "We were talking about my dad's optometrist and it just kind of slipped out. Why haven't I ever seen them?" She attempted to change the subject.
"My glasses are none of your business," Casey snarled.
Daring to step into the conversation, Elanore said, "I bet he just didn't want anyone to see his pretty face marred by geeky glasses."
"Shut up," they both snapped back.
"Geez, just trying to help," Elanore replied defensively.
"Don't," Casey replied.
"Don't talk to her like that," Prue snapped.
"You do. Why shouldn't I? You obviously have no idea how to treat a friend."
"I don't lie to my friends," Prue said quietly.
"I didn't lie," Casey insisted, "I just didn't tell you I had glasses, for god's sake."
"It's the same as lying," Prue responded huffily.
"I don't understand why you're the one who's upset. I'm the one who's had my privacy blatantly invaded by some chick my brother decided to have fling with."
Prue gasped, "You- you- it's not a fling. I like- no, I love Cerulean."
"You do not," Casey scoffed.
"I do too."
"If you loved him, you wouldn't be able to admit it so easily. I know you, Prue. You have trouble saying what you really feel. It would take you years to admit you loved Cerulean unless something drastic happened," He rolled his eyes, "Which I doubt, because Prue, you are such a prude."
"I am not. In fact, Cerulean and I do more than you would know. He doesn't tell you everything, just like you don't tell me. I guess he's a liar too, then." With that said, Prue sprung up from the couch and ran up to her dorm, almost hoping Casey would follow. She felt bad about yelling at him, but he was right, she didn't love Cerulean. Unfortunately the person she did love made her want to stay in denial for a long, long time.
Down in the common room, Frank stood up and stretched, "Good show."
"I didn't lie," Casey crossed his arms, narrowed his eyes, and said, "I'm not allowed to have secrets, I guess."
"I think you were a bit harsh," Elanore said keenly, "She really does like you, you know. Prue just has a little bit of a problem with admitting it."
"D'you really think she's in love with my brother?" Casey asked weakly.
"No," Serendipity chimed in, "But she might rethink it after the way you just chewed her out. Man, why'd you have to tell her you 'really like' Garnet? No girl wants to hear that."
"But I do," Casey stopped, "I was serious about what I said. I like Garnet, and I'm not using her to get at Prue. It's different with Prue than it is with Garnet. I enjoy being in Garnet's company, chilling with her in the library and having her laugh at my jokes."
"You just described a friend, dude," Bobby put in, as though he'd actually matured.
"You're hurting Prue," Serendipity said impetuously.
"I'm sick of being her lapdog, the backup boy toy she has if Cerulean or any other guy puts her down," Casey responded, angry, "She makes me so mad. How would you like it if your heart jumped every time you saw someone, if you couldn't stop your blood from racing through your arteries at crazy speeds, if you wanted and needed and knew this person was…just…meant for you? And then they put you down, rejected, flaunted themselves in front of other guys, knowing that you only wanted them…"
"Wow," Quant shook his head, "That's deep."
"I'd be worried," Serendipity ran a hand through her pepper red tresses, "Considering most of the people I fancy are guys. If they went after guys, well…it would be crushing."
"You think?" Frank asked, perking up, "You'd be against someone who was- er, gay?"
"No," Serendipity replied, "But if I had a crush on them, well, I doubt I'd be easily consoled. I mean, the guy preferred another guy to me? Chh," she snapped her fingers dismissively, "But it would never happen."
"Don't worry, Polaris isn't a pouf," Elanore teased.
"Shut up," Serendipity hugged herself, "I only like Orpheus."
"What a waste," Casey said, "He's never going to go for you."
Seriously, Serendipity asked, "You think?"
"The guy's just like Apollo. He doesn't love anyone who's not as pretty as himself," Casey rolled his eyes, "Which, if I'm going to be truthful, is nobody."
"First Frank, then you? Are you guys trying to admit some things about yourselves?" Bobby stood, "Because I could leave the room, if you want."
"Eff off," Casey tossed a throw pillow at his friend.
"The thing I don't get," Elanore said slowly, returning to the original subject, "Is if you feel all that for Prue, which is amazing, by the way, and I'm not even sure I believe it, why haven't you told her?"
"I told you," Casey exclaimed frustrated, "She rejects me at every turn."
"The thing is," Elanore continued coolly, "I don't think Prue realizes that you've fallen for her."
"How can she not?" He demanded incredulously, "I throw myself at her constantly."
"Prue's very dense, in case you haven't noticed," Quant shrugged, looking at Elanore and Serendipity's lethal glares, "What? She is."
"She doesn't recognize the difference between true affection and platonic bonding. I think she was just starting to accept that she liked you in that way, before you went all, 'Garnet Sanford is my sex bitch' on her."
"I did not say that," Casey muttered, appearing scandalized.
"I don't think it made much of a difference what you said in Prue's mind, except that it involved you and Garnet and you saying that you liked her."
"But I do!"
"Not like you love Prue," Elanore said firmly.
"Well, yeah."
"You're hopeless," Serendipity shook her head, "Absolutely hopeless."
**************************************************************************************
As it turned out, Casey did get an invitation from Tisiphone Grant. She told him to bring as many friends as he liked. Naturally, he invited Garnet. They'd had a great time at Hogsmeade, spectacular, even, but it was true. She wasn't Prue. Sure, she was nice, but he sort of missed his friend-crush's offbeat humor and cynical wit. Maybe he was a masochist.
He stumbled down the hall the afternoon of the party, worrying about this, when he ran into Prue, Serendipity, and Garnet. Or more, he ran into the wall behind them, making it all the easier to eavesdrop. Why he always ended up in these situations, he had no idea, but it was convenient.
"Oh my god," Garnet gushed, playing with her ruby red hair, which was done up in pigtails. Serendipity had hers swept back in a no-nonsense ponytail, and Prue had tiny green clips keeping her short locks out of her equally green eyes. Casey still felt guilty about the incident with her hair, but she did look cute. He gulped, thinking, really cute.
Garnet wrinkled her tiny, freckled nose, saying, "Casey Hargrove is such a catch."
Behind the wall, Casey raised an eyebrow. He was, was he?
"If you say so," Prue said dully, her tone making him feel like the biggest tool in the world.
"Say, Prue. Those rumors Reese O'Malley spread last year and this year, you know, about you and Casey? They weren't true, were they? I mean, as a rule, I never believe anything Reese tells me, but you just seem so-"
"No," Prue interrupted her, sounding so sad that Casey had to restrain himself from jumping out and hugging her. Not that she would accept a hug or any form of public affection from him. He recalled the ways he'd held her at the dance, in the lake, and on the astronomy tower.
"Oh good. I was worried. I mean, it would be weird dating a friend's crush. I mean, you know," Suddenly, Casey found Garnet's habit of saying 'I mean' and 'you know' really annoying.
"I guess," Prue shrugged noncommittally.
"Great. I'm glad we agree," Garnet giggled, "Isn't it wicked that we're both dating Hargroves? I mean, The Black Orbit! I've been in love with Casey since they started. When I heard they were going to Hogwarts, I flipped."
Great, Casey thought gloomily, another groupie. She hadn't told him any of this. He hated groupies. Then again, what was it he'd called Prue? His all time favorite groupie? How lame. It had seemed romantic at the time. If only she knew that she was more than a groupie to him. Now he was thinking like one of those cheesy guys from the books Dorny made them read. Time to stop and think. He was Casey Hargrove. Girls fainted at his feet. Not very often, they were more prone to doing it for Cerulean, but it happened. He was fucking famous. If Prue Gelliston (ha, who was she?) didn't want him (how could she not?) then it was her loss. Only he felt that her loss would be his eventual demise. He blamed his mother. If she hadn't read him all those damned romance novels as a kid, he would have such set ideas about love, he wouldn't be so sure that he loved Prue, he wouldn't need her like he did, and everything would be great.
"Did you?" Serendipity inquired curiously, swishing her ponytail, "I'm more of a Dark Symphony fan, myself."
"They're hot too," Garnet agreed, "But I go for redheads."
Disturbing, considering she was a redhead. This girl was becoming more and more revolting to Casey. How could she think that band of prissy boys was even nearly as hot as him and his brothers?
"What about you Prue?" Garnet asked. Casey held his breath, waiting for her answer.
"I don't really listen to music," she slumped her shoulders slightly. Frowning, Casey realized she probably wasn't even remotely upset over the fact that he'd yelled at her, but that Cerulean had now left for home, back near the lakeside by Ottery St. Catchpole. How could Serendipity be so sure her friend liked him?
"Come on, you have to like one over the other. Which brother do you like best- wait, no, that's a stupid question. Cerulean, naturally. Which one do you think has the best flare on stage? Oh, I guess that's stupid too," Garnet was biting her fingernails.
"No," Prue looked up, smiling slightly, "I've only seen them play once, you know. Back in fourth year. Cerulean was good, no great. No contest against Orpheus, sorry Sere. Cherridy rocked the drums, too. But Casey…he was amazing. I mean, when he had that guitar in his hands, it was like, he turned into a god. He was so sure of himself, more so than now, so certain of the way he moved, the way he played. He was a different person. I spent the entire hour staring at him. The music was…divine," she finished sheepishly.
"Wow," Garnet breathed. Serendipity was smiling patronizingly. As for said god, he sat stunned behind a wall, wondering why he was doing something so stupid as eavesdropping.
"I guess that sounds stupid. I've never told him that I thought he was so good. He doesn't need another ego boost," Prue finished, growing quiet again. She was wrong. He had really needed that ego boost. And now, now he knew what to do.
"I'm dating a rock god," Garnet exclaimed, jumping up and down.
Hearing his cue, Casey stepped out from behind the wall, threading an arm around Garnet's waist with ease, "Who's a rock god?"
"Were you eavesdropping?" Prue demanded suspiciously. He liked the fear in her eyes. She should be scared of what he hand in store. Because, after all, he was Casey Hargrove. Why had he spent the past six years wondering how to sweep a girl like Prue off her feet? He already knew how.
Garnet giggled, hugging his form, "You are!"
**************************************************************************************
Elanore insisted the girls get glammed up for the party, leading Prue to insist that the girl had gone daft. Her insistences only lead Serendipity to hit her, but apparently not hard enough to make her want to pretty herself for a bunch of mangy Slytherins.
In the end, Elanore and Serendipity won out, forcing Prue into an almost embarrassing ensemble, including a barely-there green sequined halter, dusted with pixy glitter, and a short black satin skirt. In Prue's opinion, her friends' outfits were much less revealing. Serendipity wore a tight red and silver dress, striped like candy canes, that flared out at the knee, while Elanore wore dark blue pants embroidered with golden stars and a purple halter emblazoned with the phases of the moon. They decked out their faces in silver and gold glitter, using the muggle makeup Prue had stashed away combine with some magical brand names.
They met Frank at the common room exit. Sylvester was clinging to his foot, whining loudly about how he should be able to go. Finally, exasperated, the blonde boy exclaimed, "Get off! You weren't invited."
He looked up to see Prue, Elanore, and Serendipity giggling. Annoyed, he demanded, "What?"
"Nice outfit," Prue commented, indicating his royal purple button down, matched with tight leather pants and combat boots.
"For a fairy," sneered Elanore, dusting imaginary lint off her pants.
Frank held up his hands in a defensive gesture, but chose to be the pacifist, "Let's go then," he cast a disgusted look Sylvester's way, "Before Ridley pisses himself."
"No, no, don't leave me all alone. Come on guys, its Christmas Eve!"
"Sucks," Serendipity mused, "To be you, I guess."
The Slytherin common room wasn't a place any of the four liked to visit. Sure, it was elegantly furnished with sleek black leather couches and the sorts of fire and brimstone type paintings one might expect to find in ancient cathedrals rather than a schoolroom. More unsettling to Frank and Prue was the fact that the paintings spat curses of half-blood lineage and traitors to the cause. What the cause was, neither was sure, and Elanore and Serendipity refused to let either dwell on it.
"Come on, Prue. Let's have fun," Serendipity stomped her foot, eyes glittering at the sight of the huge accumulation of liquor the Slytherins had propped up on a table.
"I can't believe there aren't any teachers here," Prue crossed her arms, puckering her lips into a tiny frown.
"Since when have you been so…responsible?" A green haired boy wrapped an arm around her shoulders, meeting Serendipity and Elanore's steady glares with more composure than any aristocrat.
"Dirk," Elanore said coolly, "Hello."
Ignoring her friends' suddenly icy demeanors, Prue spun around to hug the boy, "Dirk!"
"Whoa, whoa girl. Remember your place when we're outside the classroom," Dirk smiled evilly, "You should adore me only to a point."
"How could I resist?" Prue teased, "You're so sexy."
"Is this all you two talk about during the Charms tutoring he's supposedly giving you?" Frank demanded, "How sexy he is?"
"Oh," Dirk raised an eyebrow, "So Wakefield admits it. Good, less competition for the fair Wingate's heart then."
"I do not like Dana," Frank proclaimed rather loudly.
"Bravo," a very drunk Noah Weslen waltzed up, slinging an arm around Frank's waist, "I don't like 'er much later."
"Later?" Elanore inquired.
"Yup," Noah chirped back.
"I think he meant either," Orpheus Vaughn put in, propping his friend up on his shoulder so that Noah was balanced nicely on him and Frank.
"Orpheus," Serendipity exclaimed, bringing a hand to her mouth. Dirk and Prue exchanged knowing looks, struck by the realization that Serendipity wanted to run into the bathroom and check her makeup.
"You look great," Elanore whispered into her ear, causing the redhead to blush.
Acknowledging Serendipity with a nod, Orpheus turned his sights on Elanore, "Kingston," he said icily, "Here alone?"
"Spying for Rufus?" Elanore shot back promptly. It was common knowledge that Elanore and Orpheus hadn't gotten along since she started up with Rufus, him being Orpheus's best friend and all. One might have thought Noah and Polaris would be Orpheus's best friend, but the three boys were actually more like brothers.
"Ha, you wish. My man Orlando wants nothing more to do with you," he said meanly, "Just like I said first time I met you, b-"
Orpheus's statement was cut short by Serendipity's surprised squeal and jump as Polaris covered her eyes and whispered, "Guess who?"
"Don't do that," Serendipity exclaimed indignantly, glancing at Orpheus and Noah, both of whom looked amused.
Dirk leaned into Prue, "Gelliston, you look pretty hot."
"Thank you," she twirled prettily.
"No, I meant hot as in thirsty," Dirk taunted, although his narrowed eyes revealed his true thoughts, "Want some firewhisky?"
"Is that what you boys are calling it nowadays?" Prue replied coyly.
"You are not flirting with Drake," Frank put in, disgusted.
"Chill, Wakefield," Dirk wrinkled his nose, "You look like you need a drink too."
"Ooh," Prue was still playing along, "A threesome."
"Gross," Frank turned away, spotting Apollo and Whitney necking in a corner. He decided to rudely interrupt them, thinking it was better than watching Prue and Dirk flirt outrageously, a bitch fight between Orpheus and Elanore, and Serendipity blushing and stuttering over Polaris. The entire scenario was a little too warm and fuzzy, in his opinion.
Lucky him, Noah decided he needed a companion.
It was about that time, in between tossing girlish retaliation in Dirk's general direction, that Prue saw Casey. In and of itself, not a particularly exciting thing, but as of late, Prue's heart had begun performing some rather erratic behavior upon laying eyes on the spiky haired rock god. Not that she knew he had heard her call him that particularly ego-boosting phrase. At the minute she recognized him, the slightest insolent rise of his left eyebrow, the expected smirk on his impish face, the laughter wrinkling the corners of his eyes, her heart betrayed the rest of her, pumping blood at a rapidly accelerated rate through her veins, jumping and leaping and doing all sorts of strange things that sort of made the girl want to kill herself, if only because she partially recognized the signs. She really was falling for him.
He, of course, was blissfully unaware of any affection on her part, standing in the midst of a rather large crowd, his famed party persona taking possession of his body. Garnet Sanford, of course, was hanging adoringly off his arm, laughing heinously at his every word. She was gorgeous in a tight red mini dress that flared near the dangerously high slit at her thigh. Odd though it was to see everyone in muggle clothing, it was strangest to see Garnet dressed like Queen so and so at the inaugural ball of some famous moron.
Prue watched him quietly for what must have been several minutes before Dirk tugged impetuously at her arm, "Stop staring at Hargrove. It's embarrassing. I thought you didn't fancy him. Gelliston!"
"I don't," she hissed back, trying to still the racetrack pace of her heart.
"Liar," he accused, pushing her toward the little group, "I've spent enough time at this party mingling with the mudbloods. Go socialize with the blood traitor and his crowd."
Prue might have been offended had she not seen the tiniest smile tug at the pale boy's lips, had she not spent so much time with him already, in the past month since his offered lessons. Unfortunately, she spent so much time dwelling on his feelings that in the millisecond since his push she managed to stumble right into Garnet Sanford, effectively spilling whatever had been in her cup all over the poor girl's dress. Or not so poor, Prue's mind put in, considering she was a boy-stealing wench.
"Agh," Garnet screeched, stumbling backwards, "You bitch!"
"Eh," Prue mumbled articulately, shooting her nastiest glare at Dirk, who had actually fallen to the floor laughing, mid-conversation with Tisiphone Grant.
"Wow," Casey whistled, eying Garnet's dress, "You sure killed that one."
Garnet's white dress had large red splotches all over it, almost emulating the candy cane stripes Serendipity's had going on, but not quite. Sputtering, she exclaimed, "Prue? Why the hell did you do that?"
"I-er- that is to say, I-" Prue scratched her head, unsure of how to apologize when she couldn't really say she was truly sorry.
"Give it up, Gelliston," Casey said with one of his trademark smirks, "You just wanted to be part of the real party. Which, of course, is me."
"My dress is ruined!" Garnet shrieked indignantly.
"We know, darling. No big," Casey soothed, kissing her forehead.
"Yeah, don't worry," Peregrine Vendelia spoke the first words Prue had ever heard her say, her boyfriend obligingly clinging to her hip, "The wine will come out, easy."
"Man, Casey," Cardinal Briallen demanded, "Finish telling us that story about your brothers."
Casey didn't let go of Garnet, but straightened all the same and said, "Okay, so Cayan and Cerulean were both confused as hell. And I mean…"
Sadly, Prue backed out of the circle of people laughing at Casey's every whim. He hadn't said more than five words to her. Strange from the boy who was always there to taunt her. That had been a prime opportunity for him, but he hadn't pursued it. Instead, he had comforted Garnet. She didn't understand. Casey loved to humiliate her. It was a vicious cycle. He tried his best to confuse the hell out of her, she beat him for it, he taunted her relentlessly, and who gave a damn if anyone was around to watch? He certainly never had before. Why should being around Garnet make things different? Except he had said that he really like her, hadn't he? Hadn't he?
"Prue, you better see this," Serendipity urged pulling her away from Casey's crowd.
What Serendipity had found instantly shook Prue from her sorrowful stupor. Elanore, Orpheus, Noah, and Frank sat comfortably on the only loveseat in the room, Frank perched happily in Noah's lap, swaying back and forth, occasionally spilling his drink in Elanore's hair. She was likewise seated on the other Dark Symphony member, and for once didn't seem to care about her dignity.
"Oh," Prue stated, "They're smashed."
"I knowsh," Elanore articulated, "Letsh play trush or dash!"
Slurring in reply, Noah giggled, "Yoush shaid it wrongsh!"
"Neither of you," Orpheus said solemnly, looking as though he might be thinking deep thoughts, "Are speaking correctly."
"Shush-ippity," Frank admonished, "I wansh to playsh trush or dash!"
"Okay," Elanore clapped her hands, jumping lightly. Orpheus's eyes shot wide open as she came back down, and he looked rather uncomfortable. In pain, actually.
"Frankie-frank, trush or dash?" Noah requested.
"Dash, definateishly dash," Frank affirmed.
"I dash you, I dash you to kish me!" Noah said, looking as though he had come up with the most brilliant and original idea to have ever existed.
"I cantsh do that! Yoursh a boy," Frank appeared scandalized.
"But it's trush or dash," Noah insisted.
"Oh yeash," Frank pondered the deed for a second, then leaned down and sloppily kissed Noah, full blown on the lips.
"Oh my," Serendipity muttered, kicking Prue's ankle.
"Ow, what was that for?" She demanded, eyes glued to Frank and Noah, who were now kissing more deeply, with less drunken precision.
"Look," Serendipity pointed to Dirk, who was approaching the scene, Dana next to him. The two seemed to be getting on well, actually.
"So?"
"So, you told Dana that Frank likes her. What's she going to think when she sees that," Serendipity indicated Frank and Noah.
"They stopped kissing," Prue said simply.
"He's sitting in the boy's lap," Serendipity protested, "In fact, if I didn't know for a fact that you were madly in love with Casey Hargrove, I might be asking why you're not more upset about the fact that your Noah is most definitely fancying the boys."
"He is not. Oh, wait, yes he is," Prue grinned, "I'm over it, I guess."
"Because you're in love with Casey," Serendipity teased.
"I am not. Oh, wait. Yes I am," Prue breathed, finally admitting it to her best friend.
"Gee, really? Gosh, you actually said it. I'm proud. Does that mean there will be little Casey Prue hybrids running around Hogwarts in a few years?"
By that time, Dana and Dirk had already approached, and were watching Orpheus down an entire jug of Black Brand Brandy. Prue was turning a dark red, wondering why she'd told Serendipity about what she suspected of her own feelings, then figured the party atmosphere was loosening her up. And damn it all anyway, because he obviously didn't like her back. At the very moment, he was shoving his tongue down Garnet's throat, or at least that's how it looked from her angle. Turning, Prue slammed a fist on a nearby table, "No."
"Geez, drama queen much?"
"I learned from the best," Prue pointed out.
"Elanore does have a flare for the dramatic, doesn't she," Serendipity agreed, watching Elanore untie the knots the held on her shirt, "Do you think we should stop her?"
"No one will remember in the morning anyway," Prue said dismissively, "Not even her. And I was talking about you, dimwit."
Joshua Kenth stepped in, pulling Elanore from Orpheus's lap and retying the back of her halter.
"Oh?" Serendipity asked disinterestedly as the game turned back to Frank. He chose truth, this time, apparently embarrassed at Noah's hand beneath his shirt.
"D'you think Frank's queer?" Prue asked her friend.
"I always though he liked Dana," Serendipity shot a meaningful look Dana's way, but she was too busy giggling with Dirk.
"I suppose," Prue said, watching Joshua lead Elanore away from the game. She wasn't sure whether he was taking Elanore somewhere to rape her or help her, but either way, she saw Rufus watching with supreme jealousy, Seldom Rose vying for his attention.
Orpheus was telling this time, "Frank, do you like boys? Because," he paused, as though thinking about the words, "My friend, Noah, my bestest best good friend in the entire world likes you."
Frank demurely lowered his eyes, "Noah liksh everybody."
"Not trush! Not trush!" Noah protested beneath Frank, "I donsh liksh everybody. I donsh like Dirk," Noah pointed at the Slytherin, who raised an eyebrow as if to say he didn't like Noah much either, "Butsh I donsh jush liksh yoush! I lovsh yoush," Noah nodded with conviction.
"Oh my," Serendipity gasped as Frank grabbed Noah's head and pulled him into what looked like it might turn to a long, rousing snog session, "I think we should leave before the waterworks start."
Before they exited, two hours later, Prue overheard a simple coversation between Joshua, who was holding the stark drunk Elanore, and Dirk, who was cradling his snake, Tindlemeyer, in his arms.
"It's not natural, dude. The girl was talking to my snake," Dirk said.
"Kinky," Joshua commented, pulling Elanore in closer, "Useful, I guess, too."
Elanore was cooing contentedly at Tindlemeyer, apparently convinced the snake was talking back.
"We're here to relieve you," Serendipity said to Joshua suspiciously, mock saluting him.
"I hope she hasn't been troubling you," Prue giggled, hurling one of Elanore's arms around her shoulders.
"Not at all," Joshua said smoothly, "I don't suppose you've seen my sister anywhere, have you?"
"No," Prue lied, having seen Gethesemane locked in a closet three hours earlier, but reluctant to tell.
Hooking an arm under Elanore's other side, Serendipity helped Prue leaded the girl out of the room, bidding an almost fond and cordial farewell to the Slytherins. Naturally, they decided to do this with a synchronized spell that created a force field over the door so that no one else would be able to get in or leave for several hours. It seemed like a nice parting gift.