It was strange that because of all the things that had been going in Harry's life he had barely thought about his godfather and his demise this summer. However now, standing in front of the Bones Manor with Neville, he chose to reflect on it.
The house had the old style that Grimmauld Place possessed, in a darker way than the Longbottoms. And all of a sudden, Harry felt the impact that it was his fault that Sirius, one of the only people who he had had a genuine relationship with, with an adult who treated him as an adult.
"Neville . .. I think I've gotta go back to your house mate." He said suddenly, stopping in his tracks.
They were approaching the manor, which was made of a dark rock, which had lights shining (glinting over the grass and trees on the ground) and music pounding.
"What's wrong Harry? It's not Sirius is it?" Neville took in Harry's face and learned quite quickly that it was in fact about Sirius.
"Harry, Sirius dying was not your fault. You couldn't stop it. And now, you can't let his death rule your life. He wouldn't want that. In fact he would've wanted you in the party right now." And with that Harry found himself persuaded into going to the Manor.
Once he walked in, he realised that not only did his name mean a lot in the Wizarding World, but that Neville Longbottom knew a lot of people.
Harry was given wary looks, while Neville went over and greeted the Patil twins, talked to Justin Flich-Fletchy and smiled at numerous other school peers. "Neville! Lord Potter!" A voice shouted from behind them.
Harry turned around to see Susan Bones, in a set of slightly sparkling blue robes, that brightened her pink cheeks and showed off her blue/green eyes.
"Lady Bones." Harry greeted the girl in the way Lady Longbottom said was appropriate. "Thank you for your invite. But really, call me Harry. Just Harry."
"Just Harry is it?" She asked. "Well then it's just Susan. Or Sue." She gave a grin that Harry knew sent the boys at Hogwarts wild.
"Whatever is your wish." Harry joked, as a blonde approached them.
"Sue! The Gaudet sisters are complaining that there isn't enough ice!" She said, before giving Neville a kiss on the cheek and turning to Harry. "Who's this Sue? Your new beau?" She teased her friend, before letting her mouth drop open in shock.
"Oh! Lord Potter. Excuse my rudeness! I didn't recognize you out of your school robes!" She sunk into a deep curtsy. "Hannah Abott."
"It's fine Em Abott." Harry fidgeted, uncomfortable as he used her appropriate title. The Abotts were a Ancient and Noble House, however Hannah was not directly inline to inheirate any positions, therefore her title was merely 'Em', which was similar to meaning one of the court. "But really calling me Harry is fine."
"Well I introduced myself as Hannah for a reason didn't I?" She raised her eyebrow, before grabbing his elbow. "Come dance and talk to some people. You're always so gloomy and it's no fun!"
To the shock of Harry (and the amusement of their companions) she led him over to the crowd of dancing teens, who had found joy in the music their parents hated - Wizard pop.
A half hour later Hannah released him, a large grin on her face.
They had danced to a lot of songs, and Hannah rolled her eyes at his 'I don't know how to dance' excuse. She told him that unlike the Yule Ball, where everything was formal, Hufflepuffs were throwing this party and Hufflepuffs have fun.
To the amusement of onlookers his hands found their way around her waist, and as the music pounded and the rooms got darker, he found that his blush faded.
Now however she was dragging Neville out, and Harry was allowed to sit beside Susan.
"She's a different one." Harry shrugged.
"She's quite energetic." Susan let a grin fall on her face as she drained her glass. "So this isn'r the stupid party you were expecting?"
"I never said it was a stupid party." Harry looked at her in confusion. "In fact this is the best fun I've had in a while."
"Of course you did! Every year when the House of Bones sent out invites to this, you replied, telling us it was a stupid high school party and the savior of the Wizarding World is too good for them!" Susan snapped, before her cheeks flushed red. "That's why no one approached you at school! We thought you were rude and stuck up!"
"I never said that!" Harry defended himself. "But if no one else would approach me why did you?"
"I . . . saw how you acted at school. You were not at all stuck up. In fact you're kind of humble. And after the DA . . . I felt like you know, I owed you something. Thanks to you I knew how to defend myself." Susan looked embarrassed, almost ashamed, and stared into her glass.
"You don't owe me anything! You have a lot of talent!" Harry stuck up for her.
"And how do you know that?" Susan suddenly teased. "Have you been watching me?"
Harry blushed red and stuttered. "I-I-I. . .no I haven't."
"Cool it Harry - I'm just teasing you!" She grinned sneakily, before jumping up. "How bout you come get a drink with me?"
He found himself being led over to the refreshment table by Susan.
A voice interrupted his and Susan's conversation from behind. "May I introduce myself Lord Potter?" A well articulated voice called from behind.
"Uh yeah." Harry said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck, a red flush creeping up the back of it.
"I am Lord Theodore Nott, although you can simply call me Theodore." The young man was dressed in dark robes of silk, that even Harry could see the wealth of. His dark hair was well groomed and while not slicked back, stayed down in great contrast to Harry's own.
"Theo!" Susan rolled her eyes, before hugging him. "Ignore him. After all, everyone he actually genuinely likes ends up calling you Theo. And Harry's too much of an idiot to want to have a title. Just call him Harry like everyone else." She rolled her eyes, as Harry's blush grew.
Theodore let out a grumble.
"Oh don't be so down. Why don't we all go talk somewhere else?"
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