memories in the mayhem

abigail just laughed and shrugged as violet sat down next to her, her own eyes following the ghosts, smiling at how amusing violet found them  “not exactly your amusement. but i’d definitely say that you are more important.” she laughed, taking her eyes off the ghosts to wink at her friend before they returned to the small figures flying around and as she watched them she couldn’t help but feel a little proud about her charmwork. “of course. did you know that it’s actually impossible to not be in a good mood around me? it’s even been scientifically proven.” the ravenclaw teased, gently nudging her friend back as she giggled. “oh yes. without a doubt. maybe you could even convince them to let nicholas join? he’d love you forever… literally.” she scrunched up her nose at the very graphic image violet put in her mind and shook her head vigorously while she tried to contain her laughter. “you’d like me to do what?! okay. but only on one condition: that you’ll find a way to scare peeves so much that he’ll stop making me late for class.” 

Violet tapped her chin in thought, considering what the other girl had to say. After a second or two the blonde gave a resolute nod. “Y’know, I can believe that.” she said in complete earnest. Violet couldn’t think of the last time she was ever in a bad mood when the other witch was around. She was one of those special people that always managed to get her to smile through something as simple just being around. “Do you really think my powers of persuasion are that good? Maybe I could butter them up with lollies...” she trailed off, picking up a wrapper left abandoned on the table in front of her. Fiddling with the rubbish, Violet nodded. “Oh, definitely. Easy peasy. Peeves won’t know what hit him.” Vi herself had a little grudge against Peeves (though name me a student who didn’t). “Should we go after him tonight?”

Beatrice let out a chuckle before handing the flask back to her friend “I try, I try. But I’ve got nothing on you, kid.” She grinned at her friend before laughing slightly, of course Vi was up for it. She didn’t expect anything less. “Well, you know I have all of the alcohol available for you, Vi. Lets get you in trouble with your parents, hey?” 

The blonde took another drink before grinning back at her friend. For something she just threw together, her costume seemed to be a hit. Instantly, she knew exactly how to repay Bea for the drinks. “Well, thank you very much. But I’m not planning on taking any guys for a ride tonight.” Reaching into the small bag at her side, Violet collected a hefty handful of glitter. “This should help though.” she said as she sprinkled it over the Slytherin’s head, smiling wider as the specs glittered in the light. The blonde groaned, more so due to the fact that getting there (there being a hungover Violet sitting in her father’s office with the lectures of too much drinking and the consequences that came with) was much more likely to happen than she’d want to admit. “Alright... as long as it doesn’t leave me visiting Mum in the Hospital Wing.”

Trying to slow down his racing heartbeat, Al attempted to joke back. “I think you underestimated my resistance to highly demanding physical training. Too bad all that cardio’s paying now.” Vi’s question prompted two thoughts in Albus: one, he was obviously, outwardly distraught, meaning he had to be more worked up that he had initially thought. Secondly, the subconscious was a powerful thing because before he could begin to formulate an answer, the teen’s hand found Violet’s, and the moment he was able to squeeze her hand in his, he understood what had been wrong all along: since the breakout Albus had entertained the thought that the Death Eaters would break inside Hogwarts as a certainty. Now, hearing about the attack in London had reminded him how real a threat they were.

Having a party wasn’t exactly the reason why he had felt so odd about the evening so far: it was the not knowing where his family and friends were, the unaccountability of those he was most wary of, how everyone could be wandering the halls freely and mostly, it was him being on his own instead of with those he wanted to protect. Having Violet there with him soothed Albus’ nerves a bit, because at least she was there, right under his eyes, where he could look after her and protect her. This paranoia might very well last until the last of the criminals was behind bars again – or better yet, in the ground.

The smile he offered the blond girl was tight and unsure, but it was a smile nonetheless. “I’ll be fine. Too much out of water, I guess.”

Of all the things that Albus could’ve done, slipping his hand into hers was the most surprising. She didn’t question it and the only indication that Violet gave was the slight crease that appeared in her forehead. The blonde squeezed his hand back - a solitary, I’m here and not going anywhere message. She still wasn’t sure what was wrong but she knew (she hoped) he’d tell her in due time. The moment passed in a second, but it felt like minutes. Violet tried to hide the unease that was rubbing off by continuing to joke with him. “Oi, okay mister. Just remember who taught you everything you know.”

Albus smiled, but it hardly did anything to the knot that was forming in her stomach. She knew she shouldn’t be worrying - that everything was fine. The call of the party was strong and it took all she had to turn her back on it. “Come on, I think I need a glass too.” Violet started to pull him along, towards the kitchens. Except that she was heading the completely opposite direction. 

me:bby ur hand is so thin

It felt weird, celebrating when not so long ago London had been attacked. For the most part Albus felt guilty, but a portion of his brain argued very strongly that there was nothing he could do. Wasn’t celebrating life the biggest affront the wizarding community could dish out at the Death Eaters right now? Besides, he wouldn’t have let Scorpius go on his own. Not to say his best friend couldn’t fend for himself, but two wands were always better than one – and tipsy wixen were not to be trusted.

Al had been standing near a corner for several minutes now, observing the students as they went about their business. He could relax his shoulders, stop grinding his teeth together so much. Maybe he shouldn’t have eaten right after drinking from Bea’s flask; then he’d still feel mellow, like he had when chatting with Casiphia. Taking a deep breath, the teenager closed his eyes, held it in, and exhaled. His paranoia was unnecessary, he was just ruining a perfectly good occasion to de-stress. Steeling his resolve, he opened his eyes and promptly jumped out of his skin at the proximity of someone he hadn’t even heard approaching.

“Bloody – were you actively trying to kill me or was it a happy accident?”

It wasn’t as if she were trying to be quiet - Violet and silent weren’t exactly synonymous. Yet, here Albus was, looking like he’d seen a ghost. While it fit in perfectly with all the decorations that surrounded him, Vi knew that wasn’t exactly the look he was going for. “Oh, definitely trying to kill you. Have been for a few years now... I don’t know what’s going wrong.” she joked, but something was still off. Al seemed too high strung, far too tightly wound for a party. She wanted to play it off and hope that everything was fine but she knew better than to at least not ask. “Are you alright Alby?” Hopefully her old childhood nickname would at least get him to smile.

Turning toward the familiar voice, Shane smiled gently when the very familiar face came into view.  She had always wondered how she and Violet weren’t friends.  They were both in the Herbology Club, and it certainly wasn’t the most popular extracurricular in the school, and they spent more than a little time in the greenhouses together with potting soil beneath their fingernails.  What little confidence she’d had at the beginning of the evening had died after Rowle had given her a surprisingly effective tongue-lashing.  “Uh…thanks.  Betty Cooper.  I like your costume, too,” the younger girl replied, shoulders slumping.

At the less than energetic tone of voice and slump in her shoulders, the older blonde couldn’t help but frown. It was criminal not to have a good time at a party but a Halloween one? The third most important holiday of the year (Christmas was first and while Violet’s birthday should have been considered a national day of recognition, second place was taken by New Years). It was criminal and Violet was determined to turn Shane’s frown upside down. Her character rung a bell and while the Gryffindor wasn’t exactly a fan of comic books, her older brother was. Vi may have read a few of them while bored one day and it was ironic. Her knowledge of Betty was exactly like her relationship to the Ravenclaw. Barely there, but just enough to be familiar. “Right! She’s fantastic, and you’re killing it. You should be proud! A little more excited, at the very least.” Violet accepted her compliment with a smile, but she wasn’t about to start throwing around the glitter yet. Not until Shane seemed to be in a better frame of mind.

“Oh Vi, you obviously don’t know me if you think I’ll be completely fine after tonight. I’m getting so fucked up I’m going to need to be carried out. Unless it is that I can manage to pull someone tonight, then maybe I’ll be slightly sober.” Beatrice laughed out before running her hands through her braids and taking a swig of the alcohol in the flask. “You sure do know how to make a girl swoon,” she teased. 

Laughter echoed through the air as Vi appraised her friend. “Well, I don’t think that’ll be too much of a stuggle - you look fucking stunning.” She held her hand out for the flask, keen to take another drink. She had unfortunately been asked to hand over the bottle of alcohol she had tried to smuggle in to the castle. Perhaps it was her lack of a poker face, her reputation or the fact that her parents were both officials at the school. Nevertheless, the blonde was stuck stealing what she could for the night. “But,” she dragged out the word, a glint in her eyes. “If you need any help with the former plan, I’m all too glad to help.”

“oi!” niamh exclaimed, rather ineloquently as her face lit up as soon as blue eyes had met the face of the other. lips curved upward into a smile and she skipped her way over to where they were standing wrapping her arms around them in a tight hug. the redhead was rather affectionate when she was drunk after all, potentially so much so it pushed the edge of being over-friendly — over-friendly was better than under-friendly in niamh’s books. “i haven’t seen you in AGES. well, at least not so far tonight which is a shame because you look g r e a t. — and don’t you dare try and deny it because i hate to break it to you, but i’m always right.”

As arms wrapped around her, Violet couldn’t help but return the favour, only noticing it was her roommate a few seconds later. She squeezed Niamh a bit tighter for good measure before letting her arm sling around her friends waist. “Um... Babe. We saw each other a few hours ago when we were getting ready. Remember? I kept telling you we’d have to cut your costume off at the end of the night.” Violet grinned, looking the redhead up and down. It was true, but only Niamh could pull it off. Her friend’s overly affectionate nature must’ve been contagious and being on the verge of drunk didn’t help either. With a sloppy kiss to Niamh’s cheek and an awkward courtsey, Violet said her thanks for the compliment. “I guess, I guess. I mean, you’ve never been wrong, right?”

“Me? No!” Beatrice laughed “corruption, no; making sure you have a hangover so bad that you can’t get up for the next match, yes.” She teased before tucking the flask away between the waist band of her skirt. “We all know that Hagrid is better than me, no one can beat that wonderful, wonderful man.” 

Vi narrowed her eyes, giving the other girl a good looking over. “You have an innocent face and yet... I just don’t believe you. But if I’m down for the count, it’s only fair you should be too.” Unlike with Aryan, it was nice to tease and laugh with her opponents, but honestly, at the end of the day Violet would’ve considered Bea a friend over a rival. “Okay, okay true. But I also don’t see Hagrid sharing his drink with me either. You’re both pretty much number one on my list right now.”

at this point, abigail felt silly that she had ever even doubted how violet would react. it was violet after all, one of the best people abigail knew. she wasn’t one to just ditch her friends, especially not for something like that. nevertheless abigail could still feel the relief lingering from after their conversation in the library. but the ravenclaw had begun to think that maybe it wasn’t the relief from violet not wanting to be her friend anymore, but the relief from just getting it off her chest. because honestly, she felt so much lighter and somehow, it felt as though things might end up quite alright after all. ( well at least until she remembered the death eaters that were on the loose. ) when abigail saw violet approaching her, her smile grew wider. it had been too long since the two had been able to have a proper conversation, in private. and to be honest, she had missed it quite a lot. “i’m very happy with myself.” she replied while she tried to hold back a smile. “would’ve been happier if it had taken your head off though. and who knows, maybe you could’ve joined the headless hunt? i think it would suit you.” she laughed, moving over so that there would be room for violet next to her. “all of them?! as much as i love charms, i actually had other things in mind for tonight than walking around and charming the decorations you know.” giving her friend a pointed look, she reached over and grabbed two new ghosts. making one of them dramatically sing the opening of beethoven’s fifth symphony while passing by people while the other one would let out an evil laughter. abigail laughed again as she watched the ghosts fly off and she raised her eyebrows at violet before she asked, a smile still present on her face.  “happy now?” 

“Merlin, what in nine hells was I thinking wearing this?  Me legs feel naked.”  For someone who had a tendency to wear over-sized sweaters or generally large tops with torn up jeans, the high-wasted shorts that revealed the surprising length of Shane’s legs despite her meager sixty inches of height were a little much.  Not to mention the fact that she preferred sneakers and boots to heels and yet, here she was, and feeling like a six-year-old with the little lace socks.  “I’m blaming Nia and Dom for this, just so you know.  This is the kind of shite that they would encourage.  J-just…I don’t look completely ridiculous, do I?”

For someone who usually said so little, Shane was really making a statement with her costume. Violet had been making the rounds; talking to friends and taking sips of whatever she could mooch. It was only when she heard Shane talking that she desperately felt the need to butt in and talk to... well not her friend... not yet, anyway. “Ridiculously hot is more like it. I don’t know exactly who you’re supposed to be, but I’m a fan.”

“They never really seem to miss a beat with these things. Getting better and better every year.” Beatrice lent against one of the columns in the Great Hall, a black flask that was once hiding in her thigh high stocking now sitting in her grip. Taking a swig and leaving a trace of red lipstick on the rim “want some?” 

Violet’s face split into a smile as the flask was extended to her. “Are you trying to corrupt me?” she asked, all the while reaching for it. Ignoring the lipstick stain made prior, the blonde took a swig, wincing only slightly as she passed it back to Bea. “Thanks babe. I don’t know who delivers the goods better... you or Hagrid?”

despite the attack in london, not having caught up completely on all of her schoolwork, and STILL  getting the occasional mean look from certain people, abigail was determined to have a good time. after all, the attack was in london. hogwarts was far away, and the safest place on earth… right? and the only subject she was behind in now was ancient runes, which really wasn’t all that bad. and abigail had decided, to once and for all stop caring about what other people said or thought… she would at least try. so she was all set to have fun at halloween. so much fun. nothing could bother her, at least not much. there would be so many great costumes, and the decorations were definitely great. although as she looked down at the sad paper ghost in front of her on the table she couldn’t help but feel that something was missing. the ravenclaw furrowed her brow as she tried to think, tapping her index finger to her temple. a smile then spread across her face as she pulled out her wand and pointed it at the ghost, muttering a charm under her breath. no luck. so she tried again, and suddenly the ghost lifted up from the table and began flying around the room. a small “ooohhhh” erupting from it whenever it flew close by a person. abigail laughed slightly as she watched it and how it made people jump in surprise. “how many do you think i should make do that?” 

After their talk (and subsequent extraction from the library), Violet couldn’t help but love Abi even more... if that were even possible. The jury’s still out. They joked, they laughed and it was just like old times. In fact, it was awfully silly of Abigail to worry that it wouldn’t be. Which was why, after only fleeting greetings and hushed conversations in class, Violet was set to see her again. They would exchange more than five words to each other. The blonde made a beeline to where Abigail was sitting, only stopping in her tracks when something flew straight at her head. She ducked, as one does when flying contraptions aim for your forehead. Violet straightened up as the little paper ghost circled around a few times, letting out a little moan as it came too close. It was far more adorable than the real ghosts of Hogwarts (though she could appreciate Myrtle’s pigtail game) and Violet couldn’t help but chuckle at it. She wasn’t the only one it seemed, as Abigail laughed at her too. "That thing,” she gestured over her shoulder, “Nearly took my head off. I hope you’re happy with yourself.” A beat passed before Violet continued to talk. “Please, charm all of them. It’ll be a riot.”