Party Hard!

“Now, let’s try to all get along this time,” Arya told the lads with a grin.

“Hey, as long as those bloody snakes don’t come,” Asher swore with a laugh. “I think this one will go much smoother.”

The Gryffindors were nearly finished setting up for the party. Edwin and Alec were laying out decks of Exploding Snap cards, while Ash and a few other third years enchanted lanterns shining bright and golden to float around the room. Arya was busying herself with the snack table; they had a large supply of goods from Honeydukes, plus several kegs of butterbeer.

“Where are the chessboards?” Ed asked, looking around.

“Jon’s bringing a few,” Asher assured him. “Seamus broke mine.”

“How?” Arry asked, raising an eyebrow.

Asher shrugged and gave her a ”It’s a long story,” look, which only made her more curious. She made a mental note to keep the Irishman away from the chess tables.

“Welcome to our common room,” Ed exclaimed overdramatically as guests started to arrive.

Tari sat down on the stairs to the girl's dorms, watching the party people about her. She had forced herself to go as to socialize and possibly *gasp* make friends, after all, she was a lion, and that meant bravery.
She looked up from the ground as a pair of feet cut off her line of sight to the carpet, and attempted a friendly half-smile
"Good evening..."

Adelaine and Seamus skipped (literally) through the halls and up the stairs to Gryffindor Tower. They’d just had their share of pumpkin pasties and were now hopped up on sugar. Gavin and Peyton weren’t far behind, singing a ballad at the top of their lungs. The night was already off to a great start, and Adele was determined that it stay that way.

“Welcome to the lion den,” Alec greeted them cordially.

“Butterbeer!” Gavin and Peyton shouted simultaneously.

They immediately headed for the kegs and Adele rolled her eyes. She turned to say something witty to Seamus, but he’d already wandered off to a chess table. Looking for a familiar face, she saw both Arya and Marigold on opposite sides of the room. Then she spotted someone sitting on the stairs.

“Hello,” she walked over and smiled. “Your name is Christiare, isn’t it? I’m Adele.”

Elsa practically dragged Mira up the final staircase. She didn’t want to go to this shindig, but her housemates had had enough of her “shyness” and “laziness”, and refused to let her sit this one out.

“What’s so bad about it?” Elsa asked for the millionth time.

“It’s just not my scene,” Mira tried to explain (also for the millionth time).

“You don’t like friends?” Jon started fervently. “Food? Drinks? Games? Music?”

Mira rolled her eyes with a small smile. Why were they going on about it? She was here, wasn’t she? She’d given in, hadn’t she? Mick muttered the password and the door swung open, revealing a massive common room. Flutes and lutes played quick, upbeat tunes. Games of all sorts had ensued. Some people were even dancing.

“Welcome to the lion den,” Edwin appeared, grinning.

“Hey, that’s my line,” Alec popped up beside him, punching him in the arm.

“Yeah, yeah,” Ed laughed and shook his head. He grabbed Mira’s arm. “Join me in a game of Snap!”

Arya was shocked to see Mira. She’d never once come to a party, no matter the efforts Elsa and Jon made. The girl was almost in their group, almost; perhaps this was a chance to finally get to know the Hufflepuff. Perhaps not. Ed immediately grabbed her up and was dragging her to a game table. Maybe next time.

“Welcome to the lion den!” she heard Alec say.

“How long before that gets annoying?” Asher laughed, sneaking up behind her. He had a small child latched to his back.

“Did you steal him away from Marigold?” she asked, smiling at the adorable tot. “Hello, Mace!”

“Hi, Arry!” he shouted, though she wasn’t more than a foot away from him. Asher grinned and walked away, probably back to Marigold.

Alec said his line again. Symon, Jacob, and some other Slytherins walked through. Arry held her breath, but only a few people gave them tense looks. She sighed in relief. Nothing will go wrong this time, she reassured herself.

“Good evening, Arya,” Jacob smiled awkwardly, probably still confused by their conversation at the Templar meeting.

“Nice t’see ya, Jacob,” she replied. They both stood there hesitantly, then walked off in opposite directions.

Kolby and Devan carefully carried the box up all the stairs. It was a heavy box and Kolby didn't really want to carry it.

"Explain to me why were bringing this again. What if they don't want it?" Kolby asked.

"They're want it. Everyone loves to gamble. It'll be fun." Devan told him for the thousandth time.  Kolby rolled his eyes.

"If Walter finds out you took this Devan..." Mick started, following them up the stair.

"Shut it Mick. He's our older brother. He won't mind." Devan snapped at his cowardly twin. Kolby looked at Mick and shrugged. They finally got to the door and Mick opened it.

"Ooo. Look what the first years brought." Gavin said, ruffling Kolby's hair as they set the kit on the table.

The kit consisted of five figurines, each one a different color and each one of them on brooms. It also contained a set of flags numbered 1-4, which the figurines followed. It also contained a chalkboard to keep bets on and a cloth bag to keep bets in. Devan got to setting up a simple course for the flyers to run, while Kolby began taking in bets. Devan was right. People did like the gamble.

"Kolby, put me five Galleons on Ruby Red." Gavin said, sliding him the Galleons.

"Three on Sapphire Blue." Seamus betted. Kolby began writing down the totals.


Kolby went ahead and put a Galleon on green, just because it seemed like the underdog.

"Anyone else want to place a bet?" Kolby announced to the common room.

Adelaine watched as people started placing bets. She wasn’t sure she was comfortable with this. In her father’s eyes, gamblers were the weakest of men. Oddly, the thought of his disapproval made her want to do it more. Was this the onset of her rebellious side?

“Accio coinpurse,” she muttered, her sack of galleons flying toward her from the dorm.

“Seamus, mate, you can’t afford it,” she heard Peyton say quietly to their friend.

“Yes he can,” Adele said firmly, pulling Seamus aside. She took three galleons out and handed them to him. “You don’t owe me anything but a butterbeer.”

The Irishman hesitated at first, but then looked at her like the whole world revolved around her. It made her a bit squirmy, rather uncomfortable, so she patted him on the shoulder and moved on.

“I’ll put five on blue,” she shouted happily, paying up. This could be fun.

Kolby was trying his best to keep up with the money. But, he was quickly forgetting who placed bets where. Luckily, Jane volunteered to write people's names down with which color they chose, making his job a lot easier.

Kolby scanned the room. Gavin and Arya were whispering in the corner. Marigold and Asher were on the couch, entertaining the adorable Mace. Adele was chatting with Peyton and Seamus. Symon and Jacob were playing chess, Symon glaring at Seamus all the while. Jacob seemed unfazed by Marigold spending time with Asher. Probably because of Mace. Kolby thought, remembering that Jacob seemed a bit freaked out by the tot.

"Put Arya down for green on 3," Gavin told Kolby, sliding him the money.

"Last minute bets! The race will begin in two minutes!" Devan announced. Kolby wished he had given him a warning. People started flocking to the table.

"Two on green," Symon said.

"Two on purple," Jacob placed.

"One on white," Elsa guessed.

"Change mine to green. I'm feeling lucky," Seamus quickly told Kolby.

"And, that's all folks! Betting is now close. On to the race!" Devan said. Kolby quickly tabulated the money.


Kolby kept the money at the table as Devan set up a quick track. He put he one's flags on Jacobs and Symons chess game, giving the brooms chess pieces to fly between. He put the two's flags way up high on a rafter and he placed the three's flags under the coffee table. The four's were put on the betting table, where Kolby could declare a winner. Each checkpoint was connected by lines of light, keeping the figurines on track. Devan placed the five flyers between the one's and the four's flags, ready to begin the race.

As the race began, Tari stood and walked over. She would have bet, but coming from the family she did she had not a knut to her name. All her books and robes she had collected from various lost and founds around the school, or friends had helped her out. Smiling slightly, she folded her arms as to keep out the cold.
"I do hope the green will win..." She muttered softly but distantly.

Arya did not like the idea of being in anyone’s debt, but Gavin assured her she owed him nothing. She glanced over at Seamus and wondered if he was feeling the same guilt she did. Green had better win, she thought grimly.

“Racers, at your marks!” Alec shouted, a bit buzzed from the butterbeer.

“They’ve already been set there,” Edwin rolled his eyes. “And they’re statues, mate, they aren’t alive.”

“I’m on it,” Peyton jumped up, wand at the ready. “Statue animatum!”

The five little guys and their brooms came to life with a ping and waved at the spectators pompously. Clearly these were made with a little bit of magic; they were every bit the professional Quidditch players they were meant to look like. They assumed the position and waited for an official call.

“Alright, listen up!” Edwin shouted, quieting the room. He turned to the statues. “You’re gonna go around the course three times. No foul play, or you’ll be melted down. Got it?”

The figurines gulped and nodded, glancing at each other competitively.

“On the count of three!” Alec announced, standing on a box. “One….two….THREE!”

Adelaine stood with Symon and watched the race. She was honestly a bit surprised he bet. Their parents had similar thoughts on gambling. Perhaps he did it for the same reason she did; a little rebellion never hurt anyone, right?

“Will they really be melted down?” she muttered, nudging him.

“I doubt it,” Symon chuckled. “Seems a bit harsh.”

White was in the lead at the moment, just about to reach Flag 2, with Blue and Red tailing him close behind. Purple was in last, at least three feet behind Green.. The first three raced up over the rafter and then dove down toward the coffee table.

“This is actually quite interesting,” she whispered to Symon. “We should use these guys when we learn our plays in Quidditch, don’t you think?”

“Is it ‘we’ already? You haven’t even tried out for the team yet,” the Slytherin smiled. “But that is a fantastic idea.”

“Certainly beats trying to understand your drawings,” she laughed.

Tari bit her lip as she noted the green guy lagging behind.

"Common.. you can do it little one... " She encouraged it, bouncing slightly on her feet.

Smiling as she cheered on the fliers, she stepped back a little, loosing her balance, and thus tumbled into someone behind her.

Kolby was watching the race intently, keeping of track of who was winning, when Tari tumbled into him. Lucky for her, Kolby had fast reflexes and caught her before she could hit the ground.

"Whoa." he said as he helped her to her feet. He smiled at her, a bit amused by her clumsiness.

"Are you alright?"he asked, with a smile. He looked at the race, seeing that red was still in the lead, about to pass the four flag.

"You better be watching good Kolby. You're the one that declares a winner." Devan reminded. Kolby rolled his eyes. So bossy. he thought.

Mira stood with Ed and Elsa to watch the race. She didn’t place any bets, but it was still interesting to watch. The little figurines certainly were focused on their goal. It was the second lap now, and Blue was in the lead, just about to pass Flag 3.

“Come on, mate,” she heard Edwin mutter beside her, staring intently at the race.

He had bet 4 galleons on White, who was in third place. Mira shuffled on her feet and looked around the room. Boredom was fast taking over and she really had been having much more fun playing Exploding Snap.

“What?!” Elsa shouted.

She looked up to see what was happening. Green, last place for a while now, was making its way to the front. The little statue leaned forward strategically and sped up, passing the rest until he was in second place. Blue and Green quickly flew by Flag 4 and the final lap began.

Marigold had to basically hold on to Mace. He wanted to chase the figurines around the room and he was squirming like crazy.

"Please Mari. Please," he begged, reaching for them.

"Mace, bud, you need to calm down," Marigold told him as her and Asher sat by a window, watching the race. She was silently cheering on Purple, but he had fallen way behind.

"Who's it gonna be?" Asher asked himself, watching as Blue and Green disappeared behind the rafter. Marigold yawned and held Mace close.

"Mari," Mace said again. Marigold sighed and rolled her eyes.

"I wanna play with them!" Mace yelled, about to throw a tantrum.

"Here. I got him. Just tell me who wins," Asher said, taking Mace from her and going into the boys dorm to calm him down. Marigold rubbed her head and watched the race. It was really close.

(OCC: waiting on Jo for Kolby.)

Tari blinked before realizing who she fell into and took a step back.

"I.. I'm okay.. Sorry.." She mumbled to the Slytherin, attempting to hide a childish blush which had forced itself upon Tari's unwilling cheeks, turning her attention to the race. She smiled gleefully as she noted green advancing.

"Emerald sure is pulling through, don't you think?" She asked, bouncing slightly on her toes, keeping her eyes locked on the little racer, eager to see the underdog win.

"Yeah. Keeping my fingers crossed," he told her, watching the figurines dip low under the coffee table. Kolby sat at the table and watched the figurines carefully as they approached the last flags, everyone in the common room, cheering on their flyers. BLue and Green were neck and neck. Then, suddenly, six inches from the finish line, the figurines went into slow motion. Kolby watched very closely as....

"Green had crossed the finish line!" he announced, a set of cheers coming from the winners and groans of disappointment came from the losers. Kolby took the piece of paper with names on it.

"The winners are: Arya, Symon, Seamus, and myself, splitting the pot and getting 10 Galleons a piece! Please come up to collect your winnings," he announced over the crowd.

"Don't despair! They'll be another game in about five minutes!" Devan exclaimed. Seamus was all smiles when he came up to collect his winnings.

"Congratulations," Kolby said happily, passing him his ten Galleons. Kolby had to throw in an extra Galleon to make each winner get an even ten Galleons a piece.

"Thanks mate," he muttered, all smiles. Symon collected his money. Kolby smiled when Arya came up.

"Hey. Congratulations," he said, counting her coins.

Arya actually ran to Kolby, nearly knocking a few students over. She had never even held so much money before.

“Thank you,” she grinned, taking the earnings Kolby handed her. She immediately went to find Gavin.

“Congrats, Arry,” he smiled, sitting at a game table.

“Here, take it,” she insisted, pushing three galleons toward him.

“No, no, no,” he adamantly refused, giving them back. “I don’t need it.”

It was unspoken, but it was obvious that he intended to say “I don’t need it, but you do.” She decided not to let it get to her. It was a fact, wasn’t it? Arry smiled and went to find Seamus.

“Ya seen Adele?” he asked, looking around the crowded room.

“You know she won’t take it,” Arya smirked. “But it’s polite to offer anyway. I’m heading up to the dorm, tell them I said goodnight.”

Seamus nodded and she went straight to bed, hiding the galleons in her trunk.

“I can’t believe it,” Adele said for the fifth time. “He was so close!”

“This is why gambling is a waste,” Ed sighed, disappointed as the rest of them were.

Adelaine looked around the room for the rest of her crew and sipped a butterbeer. She noticed Asher talking to Devan; it looked like he was telling him to call off the second round. It was late and the Gryffindors didn’t want people to hang around all night gambling. Then, Adele saw something that shocked her – in a good way. Across the room, Symon discreetly passed Finn his ten galleons, ignoring the Hufflepuff’s refusal to accept it. How sweet, she thought, smiling. But since when did Symon and Finn even speak to one another outside of Templar meetings? A finger tapped on her shoulder.

“Hey, Addie,” Seamus said, snapping her back to reality. He held out three galleons. “Here, take it.”

“Absolutely not,” she laughed, playfully pushing his hand away. “I told you, you owe me a butterbeer over the summer.”

“It’s a plan, then,” he smiled from ear to ear, pocketing the winnings.

She watched him walk away, then went over to Symon.

“I’m heading out,” she told him, refilling her mug. “Walk with me?”

It was about ten minutes after the race, and the crowd was thinning. Edwin and Mira had sat back down to finish their game, however, which Mira thoroughly enjoyed.

“Oh, c’mon!” Ed shouted.

“Don’t be a sore loser,” Mira laughed as her turn came up again.

A pair of mermaids (and not the pretty kind) popped up and she quickly tapped them with her wand. Then a pair of ogres. Then a pair of wizards. Then a pair of grindylows. How was she so good at this game? Now was the time to bet money, Mira was confident she would win.

“How ‘bout a wager?” she smirked.

“Two galleons each?” Ed figured, idly scratching the sides of his chair. She nodded.

“Your turn.”

Fast forward ten minutes – Edwin was paying up and Mira was grinning ear to ear.

“Gambling isn’t so bad,” she jeered, pocketing the galleons.

“Yeah, as long as you’re winning,” he laughed.

“Mira, we’re going back,” Elsa snuck up behind her.

They waved to Ed, told him it was a great party, and headed back to their dorm.

Devan and Kolby started putting everything back in the box. Kolby dreaded having to carry the box back. Walter had left them to it; he was angry at Devan and Mick for bringing it, but he would let them bother them again as long as they didn't break it.

"Here. Let me help you guys," Jacob said, casting a Locomotor spell on the box. Kolby went and got Symon and Osmond and the Slytherins left.

"That was fun," Mick said.

"Uh huh," Symon muttered. Kolby noticed that Marigold and Adele seemed to avoid Jacob and Symon while at the party. There wasn't a fight and everything was actually peaceful tonight. But, Kolby wondered if Symon was a bit sad of not being able to talk to Adele.

"We should do that again, before the school year ends," Osmond said. The Slytherins nodded in agreement as they went back to their dorm.[/font]