#mistarter

Valentine’s day weekend was thoroughly a pain. It was also the one weekend a year you could count on her making it a no underage wizards in her pub. It wasn’t anything against the kids—well, it kind of was. Endless streamers, and last year she relented and there was a bloody fight in her pub over some useless cock and two poor girls fighting to the death. Inanity she didn’t need this time around. “No—nuh-uh!” She called, moving from around the bar as some fourth years tried to sneak in behind an older student. “No underage wizards today—get out—“ She pointed to the door, shooing them out, as she turned back to the patron. “Sorry ‘bout tha’—“ But the sudden click and near entrance again by the same student, as she rose a hand, palm facing the door and it slammed shut in their faces, shaking in the doorframe from the force of her wandless magic, as she lowered her hand. “So,” She spoke, moving behind the bar. “How’s about a pint on me for tha’ mess, aye?”

The Hogsmeade weekend before Valentine’s is coming closer and closer by the day and still, Bilius had no date. That didn’t sit well with the Gryffindor. It was his second to the last Valentine’s in Hogwarts and he’d be damned if he wasn’t going to make the most out of it. 

Bilius’ love life since the beginning of his sixth year has been uneventful so far. Sure he had a couple of hook-ups here and there but those hardly counted. He might not seem like it given his impulsive and devil-may-care attitude. But he definitely missed going out of his way to make a significant other happy and being taken care of just the same. Bilius was afraid that perhaps his usual lines and moves were getting a bit rusty so he hit the Hogwarts Hallways to find out.

Equipped with a clipboard and eyeglass frames with the lenses removed that he snatched from the lost and found, he went out of the Gryffindor Common Room and started looking for free students that he could interview. “Hi!” he approached one. “Do you have the time to take a quick Valentine’s survey?” It was less of a question and more of an assumption. “Great,” he immediately added without waiting for a reply. “Describe to me your ideal date.”

She could feel a slight hesitation, whether it was simply a case of the way all sense of British queuing went out of the window the moment there were people lined up along a bar or that the person in front of her was unsure what to order but Iolanthe took the opportunity to show a little bit more of her personality. Though her name badge declared her to be Philli, it was all Iolanthe when she flashed a smile across the bar, leaning in to emulate amity. “What are you thinking? Perhaps something a little different today? We have our selection of Valentine’s specials at the moment.” Her hand waved towards the board propped up on the bar. “I recommend our hottest ever Amortentia cocktail.”

When he had come to Hogwarts, the age old traditions still stood. He attended at eleven and left at seventeen. He had been sorted into Ravenclaw, and was a studious boy within his tenure of education. Surely, a broken rule here or there—but when John understood what he wanted to be, knew where he wanted to go—he grew up, and did so fast. Less parties turned into more frequent trips to the Library. It was where he stood now, hands pocketed. He was only there to cover part-time for the sabbatical of a co-worker, taking time off the job due to a sudden loss in the family from the ongoing war that barred down on every single person within the UK. As cruel as it was to suggest, John didn’t care. He didn’t plan to pick a side, he only cared to do his job. Uphold the law. If you were innocent, it would show, and if you were proven guilty then it was a one way ticket to Azkaban. There were no shades of grey when it came to the Auror. Looking up at the mass arch of the Library entrance, he shook his head. “Not a damn thing in this school changes, does it?” Was he looking for evolution in an institution nearly as old as the country itself? John only let out a small laugh at the thought, unaware of someone nearby.

Daisy’s favourite class was Muggle Studies, by far above anything else. She loved and admired the Muggle life, often badgering those who lived it before her in their spare time to indulge her whenever they were willing too, within reason. Their classes as of this week were focused on studying pop culture, and Daisy’s head was filled with the fiery tunes that were unable to be replicated within the magical world, no matter how hard a wixen tried. It was uniquely ordinary and she loved it. Clutching the record in her arms, knowing she’d have to find the nearest person who might’ve magicked one into the school to work. “Have you heard this album?” She approached the nearest person, ABBA shining in gold letters across the packaging. “I’ve heard only one song but it’s so beautiful! Do you want to listen to it with me?”

It wasn’t even midnight but Bilius’ sweater already came off. His tie was undone and it was slung on his neck. His shirt was a couple of buttons undone. The night was going extremly well for a party celebrating Lily. Surely, this was all Marlene’s doing. Possibly even Theo. Bilius also saw Ludo around so he thought that the other might have a hand in this as well. In the end, everything was swell and Bilius sought to enjoy it as much as he can. Lily was practically family anyway.

Bilius was holding one of the bottles from the icy cauldrons that held the drinks and opened it with a loud cheer. He took a few swigs directly from the bottle and smiled triumpantly as he finished before wiping his mouth with his sleeve. His eyes searched the crowd and locked at eyes with his target. “Hey!” Bilius approached them, almost shouting over the roar of the party. He raised his bottle of firewhiskey to indicate what he was about to do. “Open up!” The Gryffindor shouted as he brought the bottle over the other person’s head.

Walden wouldn’t even have heard about Lily’s party if it weren’t for Xanthus. There was no reason that he’d be invited. Remus surely didn’t. He wouldn’t really have gone either way if it weren’t for the younger Ravenclaw practically dragging him to come. Walden relented. He reminded himself that only Remus really suspected anything and that even he was eventually placated. Even if it were temporary. 

Walden lost the other boy pretty immediately in the party so he simply chose to linger by the drinks table, aiming to get himself pretty buzzed throughout the night. He drank two shots of firewhiskey right away. Easy. He was about to pour himself a third when he noticed the person behind him. “Oh. Sorry. Didn’t mean to hog the drinks.” Walden extended the bottle of brown liquor towards the other person. “Wanna shot?”