The Eighth-Year common room was not as cosy as the Gryffindor common room, it was much bigger, and there were less people. The students tended to spread out in the corners and stayed in their house groups. There were two large fireplaces either side of the main door, by one was a group of comfy, lumpy sofas and armchairs which the Gryffindors usually occupied. By the other was some equally lumpy brown sofas and chairs with cosy yellow pillows and blankets. Under the windows on the opposite wall were a collection of green leather wingback chairs and low sofas that all looked very stiff. In the last corner were desks, with big wooden chairs on wheels and squashy cushioned seats. Each corner a little bit like their old common rooms Harry supposed. He, Ron and Hermione were sat cross legged on the floor by the fire, using one of the coffee tables in the Gryffindor area to do their homework on.
'I still don't see the point in it.' grumbled Ron. 'Why would I want to change the colour of flowers, they come in all colours anyway!' Harry agreed, the colourisation concoction they had been making all week in potions did seem a bit pointless. It took 2 weeks to complete depending on the colour you wanted to create and, in that time, you could grow other flowers in whatever colour you wanted using a speedy germination charm.
'It's the method that's important.' Hermione launched into a detailed explanation of the method of brewing the colourisation concoction which Harry and Ron quickly scribbled down so they could re-write it into their essays. Hermione glared at them both. Ron grinned and pulled her into a hug, he kissed the top of her head. Harry looked away. He looked over at the Slytherin corner. Sat on the stiff leather seats were Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bulstrode, Theodore Nott, Blaise Zabini, Gregory Goyle, Daphne Greengrass and Tracy Davis. All the surviving members of Slytherin house except Malfoy. Harry pulled the Marauder's map out of his school bag, tapped it, muttered the words and the ink lines spread from the wand tip. It was fascinating watching the lines shoot off, meet, crossover and eventually form a map of the whole castle. His dad and his friends had been the most extraordinarily clever bunch of trouble making nerds Harry thought fondly. Harry scanned the map and saw Malfoy was in a classroom on the seventh floor a part of the school still off limits.
'So, I'm thinking we should have a party, you know like we used to in Gryffindor.' Harry looked up, Dean Thomas had taken a seat on the sofa beside where Harry, Ron and Hermione sat. The other Gryffindors, Seamus Finnegan, Neville Longbottom and Parvati Patil all looked up at Dean from their positions on the red sofas.
'Why?' said Harry as he put the map face down on his lap under the table.
'Where?' asked Ron.
'Here.' Said Dean, 'and why not?' he frowned at Harry.
'Well, it's no one's birthday is it? And nothing good has happened?' The battle of Hogwarts had been five months ago, but Harry still didn't think it was appropriate to have a party. Not really. Day to day life went on, but having fun still seemed a step too far given how many people had died.
'It would have been Lavender's, this Thursday.' said Parvati softly. Everyone looked uncomfortable, not only because Lavender had died but also because only Parvati knew it would have been her birthday. Harry realised that although he and Ron and Hermione were extremely close friends, and he considered the other Gryffindor his friends they weren't actually very close.
'Right then, we'll have a party for Lavender, in memory of her and for her birthday.' said Dean awkwardly. 'We can get some food from the kitchens, and some butterbeer from the Three Broomsticks, Seamus and I can go after classes tomorrow. The Ravenclaws have got that wireless we can tune it to some better stations.' The Ravenclaw corner contained a wireless which they often used to play classical music, and less often to play a grunge radio station based in Seattle, using magic to amplify the radio waves.
'We're inviting the others?' Neville asked Dean. They all looked around the room, all eyes finally landing on the group of Slytherin's in the opposite corner.
'Yes.' said Dean sounding decisive again, 'and some people from the younger years if we want.' He looked pointedly at Harry and Ron. Harry had no idea why. Except maybe that things might be awkward with the Slytherin's, but Harry doubted they'd join the party anyway.
'Excellent, that's settled then.' Seamus grinned clapping Dean on the shoulder, the two of them got up and headed through the door to the boys' dormitories. The other Gryffindors went back to their homework, Harry picked the map up again to check on Malfoy.
'That was odd.' said Ron frowning slightly, he looked like he was playing a difficult chess game. One of the few really tough opponents Harry had seem him play where his eyes would start darting around the board as he played through all the scenarios in his head.
'No, I'm sure it'll be fine. How about we finish this tomorrow and go tidy your trunk?' Hermione suggested to Ron. Ron's frown darkened at the implication he needed help tidying his things, then noticing the pointed look on Hermione's face Ron smiled brightly and started slamming shut his textbooks. Ron and Hermione disappeared into the boys dormitory. Shortly afterwards Dean and Seamus came back out looking disgruntled after being kicked out their own room. Harry sighed and looked back at the map, Malfoy was on the astronomy tower now. Harry decided he'd go tell him about the party.