Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, or anything related to him.
Note: This was written for Fire the Canon's "50 Days of Inspiration" competition using the prompt Live to Party by the Jonas Brothers and JoeCool989's "Summer Writing Camp!" challenge using the prompt write about a party.
Warnings: n/a
Rating: K+
Characters: Harry/Ginny, Ron/Hermione, Neville/Hannah, Luna
Word Count: 1514
Even with as many people helping as they did, accompanied by the wonders of magic, the repairs of Hogwarts took several months, given that either Dark Magic had damaged things beyond salvation, or the broken pieces were just too widely scattered for a simple reparo to do the trick. Entire chunks of wall were replaced, which then had to be spelled to be resistant to magic, so that students couldn't randomly transfigure or charm them between classes. There was a widespread debate about whether or not this was a good time to update the decor, or if that would make destruction the castle sustained too obvious. In the end, it was agreed to keep everything as close as possible, hoping to aid people in forgetting, or at least keeping them from focusing on the negative memories that so many people would have of this place.
When everything established as being finished, the people who had been participating in the reconstruction went home for good, leaving Hogwarts the empty shell it normally was in the summer. That was, until the invitations went around to inviting everyone back to the school for a The Dark Lord is Dead/Hogwarts is Repaired party. Opinions were diverse on whether or not it was in good taste to have a party after so many people gave their lives, but not only did many of the returning students reply that they were attending, so did many of the alumni. Those who helped participate with the party planning were surprised to learn that the original idea actually came from one Miss Hermione Jean Granger.
"I'm surprised to say it, but Granger can throw a pretty good party," Mandy yelled over the music to Morag as they danced to the Weird Sisters in the Ravenclaw Common Room that had been rearranged into a dance floor, just as all the common rooms had. "I guess being in Gryffindor rubbed off on her."
"What would you know of parties? You're a Ravenclaw!" Zacharias Smith shouted at the girl.
"What would you? You're a Hufflepuff!" She shot back as the two girls subtly worked their way across the floor to get away from him.
Along the side of the room, Luna stood sipping a Butterbeer as she watched the dancers. A red-haired young woman popped up next to her. "There you are! I've been looking all over for you. I wouldn't have figured you'd be interested in the Weird Sisters."
"Oh, I'm not up here to listen to them," Luna replied serenely. "I wanted to make sure that a Nargle infestation hadn't occurred during the repairs. If so, I was going to have to bring extra necklaces to try to deter them."
"Ah," Ginny replied. "Everyone else is down in the Great Hall. We've been waiting for you." Luna nodded and the two girls left the Common Room. Once they were a couple hallways away and the noise had died down, Ginny glanced at Luna. "How has your father been doing?"
"Not so well. He still feels horribly guilty about what he did to Harry, Hermione and Ron. I've been trying to encourage the wrackspurts to surround him, that way the events are a little less clear in his memory so he doesn't feel as bad," Luna replied, her voice slightly less cheerful than it had been.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," Ginny replied honestly. "I really hope it helps him."
The two walked in silence for another couple of hallways. "Does Harry still have the Wrackspurts?"
"Hmm? Oh, yeah. I can't figure out what is going on with him. I know he broke up with me so I wasn't a target, but you'd think that with Voldemort dead, that wouldn't be an issue. There's been some flirting, some tension, but nothing solid. I can't figure out if he's trying to be a gentleman and allow me time to mourn for Fred, or if he's really not interested. I'm half tempted to make the first move, but it just feels like he should be the one to do it. After, being the Savior of the Wizarding World doesn't mean he can get out of having to ask a girl out. They're not all going to fall at his feet." Having reach the Great Hall by that point, Ginny stepped through the doorway and looked around before taking Luna's arm and pulling her over to where everyone else was, so that they didn't get separated in the throng of people.
"I found her in Ravenclaw," Ginny said by way of greeting.
"With the Weird Sisters?" Hermione asked in confusion.
"She was checking for Nargle infestations that might have occurred during renovations."
"Oh. We uh... tried to prevent those for you," Hermione mentioned, not in the mood to get in a debate with Luna over her imaginary creatures.
"Thank you very much. Would you like me to check the Gryffindor tower also?"
"Uh, sure."
"Okay, everyone is here. Now spill," Ron told Hermione, impatient for her reply. "Why didn't you tell us you were the one arranging everything?"
"Because I thought you'd laugh at the idea of me arranging a party, and decide not to attend because it must be some type of study-a-thon." Hermione replied defensively.
"We're your friends. We would have come anyway to support you, even if it was just a study-a-thon. We just might have been less thrilled about being here." Neville replied confidently.
"Why, though?" Harry asked curiously. "I mean, woo-hoo, the Dark Lord is dead, and great, Hogwarts is fixed, but why the giant party to celebrate it? I would have expected more of a I get to finish my last year! party."
"Well, that's just it, isn't it? I mean, I was gone most of last year, but I was still here for the Battle, and saw not only Hogwarts get destroyed, but people die right in front of me. I wasn't the only one who returned for the last battle who will be coming back in the fall, and even those who weren't in the battle, many of them suffered here the last school year at the hands of the Carrows. How many students are going to have the memories stuck in their head and dread going back, considering the way things were? This, at least, gave them a chance to make new memories before the pressure of classes set in, and hopefully when they actually start next week, they'll be thinking about who snogged who at the party, rather than which classrooms they might have a panic attack in from the bad memories. Plus, it gives the parents a chance to see for themselves that the building really is fixed up, and that they don't need to worry about their children falling out of jagged holes in the wall. Seemed like a winning situation for everyone." Hermione explained.
The other four stared at her while Luna smiled serenely. "That was a really good idea," Harry commented. "I'm not coming back, but I can see it helping people who are."
Further conversation was distracted by a blonde young woman coming up to the group, specifically to Neville, and muttering something to her feet as she blushed bright red. "Um, sorry. I didn't catch that?" Neville asked. He learned in to hear her as she mumbled the second time, and he too blushed bright red. "Yeah, I g-g-guess," he stammered in reply and so took his hand and pulled him away.
"Woo, go Neville!" Ron hollered after them, chuckling at their red faces. He turned to Hermione. "So, we're sure that the entire castle is fixed up? Maybe we should double check."
"Trust me, Ronald, I've been over the plans several times, as well as McGonagall and all the other teachers-" Hermione's indignant rant was interrupted as Ron leaned over and whispered something in her ear. "Oh, alright, I suppose it can't hurt to double check," she admitted. "I'll meet up with you later," she told the rest of them as the pair hurried off.
"I would have thought that Filch would have been more worried that all the broom cupboards were repaired, rather than Ron," Luna remarked, and Ginny coughed lightly while Harry shook his head. The blonde gave a dreamy stare at each of her two companions before turning away slightly. "I think I should go check the Gryffindor tower while I have a chance." Luna skipped away.
"So... us," Harry started, avoiding looking at Ginny.
"Yes, yes. All of our friends have abandoned us."
"No, uh... I was actually thinking about... well, us. Do you think you want to?" Harry asked, fidgeting slightly.
"You're asking me back out?" Ginny demanded.
"Uhm..." Harry hesitated, then straightened up. "Yes, I am. Ginny Weasley, will you be my girlfriend?"
The redhead broke out in a large grin. "I thought you'd never ask. Now, let's go see if we can find a broom cupboard my brother isn't hogging."