Disclaimer: I own nothing other than original characters.
A/N: I didn't put one before the first chapter. Oops. Just to explain a bit, this is a slightly alternate universe. Harry was briefly an auror before leaving for Quidditch. The rest of the deviations you'll learn within the story. I didn't want to write just a new story with the original characters fulfilling different roles. I felt like I would have more freedom with original characters. Besides, there's an amazing sandbox to play in, why just stick with the few characters we know, right? Anyways, we'll see where this goes. Reviews/criticisms/flames (if you really want to be "that guy") are all welcome. Much love,
Ad eundum quo nemo ante iit
Chapter 2
Great Night
The Hufflepuff Common Room was abuzz with commotion from partying students celebrating the end to an unprecedented three year winning streak. Someone had brought in a few cases of Finnegan's Varsity Ale and Thomas' Galaxy Malt Whisky. The two brands from former Hogwarts students had taken over the Wizarding community of the United Kingdom and Ireland with Finnegan's Varsity Ale becoming a standard in many magical and muggle pubs and Thomas' Galaxy Malt Whisky with its hint of honey and vanilla being a good alternative to the intense burn of Firewhisky.
Iwan enjoyed both beverages, though usually chose whisky for parties, as it was easier to nurse. He didn't have an eversion to being intoxicated or anything, he just didn't want to make any decisions he'd regret. He had learned that lesson the hard way after they won the Quidditch Cup last year when he woke up in a dress clutching Anora's cat, Professor Buttons, whom he is allergic to. It made for a most unpleasant and embarrassing day in the Hospital Wing getting the swelling in his throat and sinuses to go down.
Music blared from the speakers of an enchanted wireless. It was a blend of muggle and magical artists. The station was known for its good blend of musical genres that made it perfect for parties such as this. More than one couple was locked in passion, and many others had already sneaked out for more amorous activities. After the Black Cauldrons newest hit "Kill it with Fire" finished its last, somewhat atonal chord, a much more upbeat muggle tune began. This was more Iwan's speed. He always enjoyed muggle music more, there was just something about it that spoke to him more than wizard musicians ever could.
Well he doesn't look a thing like Jesus, but he talks like a gentleman, like you imagined when you were young.
Iwan was sitting near the fireplace with Mary on his left and his other best friends Gareth MacTir and Anora Lewis. "Good song," Iwan said, more to himself than his friends. Mary grunted in agreement before belting out the words, horribly out of tune. Iwan noticed he was the only one laughing. He looked over at his other two friends, who would normally crack up or at least relentlessly tease Mary for her horrid singing, to find them otherwise engaged.
Gareth and Anora were currently locked in a rather passionate kiss, as per usual for those two during parties. Ever since they hooked up at Hufflepuff's first victory celebration at the beginning of 5th Year, they had managed to hook up at just about every party since. Though they both deny any deeper feelings for each other, claiming it to be an "accident" every time. By this point it was almost tradition for the two to hook up, and then vehemently deny any feelings for each.
Iwan and Mary knew better, though they didn't say anything out of respect for their friends and the belief the two would figure it out eventually. As Gareth and Anora drunkenly left the Common Room, Iwan laughed while Mary stopped singing. "Where are Gareth and Anora?" she asked.
"Where do you think?"
"Well, it was only a matter of time before they left to find a broom cupboard somewhere," she said before sighing. "Those two better get their shit together soon, it's driving me mad," Mary said after taking a sip from her pint.
"They will," Iwan said with confidence. "They'll fight it to bitter end, but they will eventually get there. You can't deny that kind of attraction forever."
"Too true. Now, let's focus on you, oh victorious Captain." Mary began scanning the room. She had told him of her plan to get him laid on the eve after their last victory, and had attempted the "favor" as she called it, many times before. Iwan had, thus far, managed to stave off the "favor," her word, thus far, having nothing more than a passing interest in the girls at school. He knew it was pointless tonight though as his protestations fell on deaf ears.
He didn't know what made Mary so interested in his love life. Sure, they were best friends and would always have an interest in each other's personal affairs, but sometimes, Mary's insistence on finding someone for Iwan to "take a tumble with," as she often put it, was borderline obsessive. Maybe she just wanted to live vicariously through him? Iwan wasn't sure how that made him feel, as she was perfectly capable of finding someone to tumble with herself if she so wished. But Iwan was brought out of this pondering by Mary's excited statement.
"Ooh, what about Louisa? She's pretty, she's in our year and I know she's wanted to bed you for a while. Won't shut up about it actually." Before Iwan could protest again, Mary was off to talk to Louisa Allen.
"Oh damn, there's no getting out of this is there?" Iwan asked no one in particular. He could see Mary talking to Louisa and the two casting glances in his direction. He managed a weak and awkward smile. Soon Louisa was heading his direction with Mary making faces at him behind her back, encouraging him to take it out of the Common Room.
"Hi Iwan," Louisa said quietly. She was a shy girl, didn't talk much to people she didn't know very well. Iwan was the same way. After a few, very awkward attempts at small talk, Mary popped up between them.
"Oh my God! Would you two just take it to an empty classroom and shag already! I can't bloody stand all this awkward 'almost talking but not really' shit!" This earned Mary a glare from Iwan, which had little to no effect on her as she then roughly grabbed them both by their jackets and shoved them out the door into the hallway.
Iwan helped Louisa up off the ground and laughed nervously. "I guess the cat's out of the bag isn't it?" she asked.
"What cat?"
"The cat of me having a huge crush on you since 4th Year." Louisa then pulled a flask out of her jacket pocket, unscrewed the top, and brought it to her lips. "Well," she said, more to herself than Iwan. "Here goes nothing." She then tipped the contents into her mouth and guzzled down the contents. She coughed after finishing and grabbed Iwan by the hand. "Come along now. I'm getting what I've wanted for four years now: I'm taking that magnificent broom for a ride!"
Iwan didn't know if it was the whisky he'd had or if he were just stunned by the bravado displayed by the normally quiet girl, but he let himself follow her down to an empty storage room and watched as she took her wand out and muttered some spells to lock the door and give them some privacy. The next thing Iwan knew, she was straddling him on top of an old couch and removing his clothes. Once his shirt came off, she took a long look at his toned chest. "I thought Mary was lying about the tattoo!" With that, Louisa rejoined her lips with Iwan's and they fell over, entwined.
ooo~OOO~ooo
Iwan's back ached when he woke up in the morning. The old couch he had slept on with Louisa was lumpy and hard, with a particularly sharp point jabbed right into his spine. Iwan soon realized he was still bereft of his clothes from the previous night. Feeling for his glasses, he put those on first so he could locate the rest of his clothing. He soon found his flannel shirt, member's only jacket and pants. Iwan quickly dressed while checking his watch for the time. 7:05 AM. And Louisa was nowhere to be seen. Had she already left?
Iwan looked around the storage room and noticed that Louisa was nowhere to be seen. It was a cramped space, so that was not surprising in the least, but it made him wonder: when did she slip out? Obviously it was after he fell asleep; how long after, though, that was the question? Or did she just wake up earlier than he did? That was a little harder to imagine as, judging by her breath and mannerisms last night, she was not fully sober. Did she think that Iwan had taken advantage of her? He sure hoped not. That was not his intention, at least.
Slipping on his boots, Iwan quickly checked the hallway for teachers and made his way back to the Hufflepuff Common Room. Sleeping students littered the Common Room floor as Iwan attempted to silently step around them to return to his dorm for a soothing shower and change of clothes before heading to breakfast. He had not drank quite enough last night to end up completely hammered, as many of the sleeping bodies in the Common Room had, no doubt, so he had no hangover to speak of. Something he knew he wouldn't be able to say about Mary, Gareth or Anora when they finally came to.
Quietly entering the washroom so as not to wake the few people who had returned to the dorm before passing out, Iwan started the shower, letting the water warm up while he undressed. Before hopping into the stream of steaming water, Iwan caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and noticed the tattoo that Louisa pointed out. It was a watercolor tattoo with vibrant pinks, blues and greens, filled with geometric triangles and squares with the face of a badger superimposed in the color. Mary had a matching one.
Looking at it made Iwan think back to all the times he and Mary had proven their friendship over the years. The heartaches they shared, the secrets exchanged, the pranks pulled. The time Mary had gotten kicked out by her parents and she had travelled all the way to his family's small farm near the village of Lightlee in Yorkshire, and his family took her in for the summer. Iwan remembered all the birthdays they celebrated together, always at school, but always special.
He remembered the night he turned 18, back in September, when he and Mary were celebrating in Hogsmeade. Mary's cousin Harriett, a tattoo artist in Diagon Alley, had come out to give him and Mary the matching set. Mary, being a week older than Iwan had graciously waited until they could get them together, as their sign of friendship and devotion. Iwan liked it. His parents still didn't know about it. Not that they would mind, or anything, they had just wanted him to graduate first.
Iwan shook himself from his memories and jumped into the shower, scrubbing the leftover sweat and other bodily odors that come from such relations. He had always enjoyed a nice, long shower in the morning. It was a good way to wake up for the day and scrub what sleep was left in his eyes away. He always had a morning ritual, ever since he started Hogwarts, of waking up early, taking a warm shower and preparing himself mentally for the day. It was simple, but Iwan found that it always made his days just a tiny bit better than they would otherwise be, if he didn't.
After he finished, feeling clean and refreshed for the lazy day ahead before his week of nonstop studying for the N.E.W.T. exams began. He picked out a fresh shirt and clean jacket, as well a pair of jeans that didn't smell too terribly and dressed before making his long, messy brown hair behave and putting on his glasses before making his way to the Great Hall for a large, and much desired breakfast.