Chapter Text
July 13th. Friday.
It was an important day. And not because it was a superstitious Friday. No. Today marked the end of exams for Seventh Year students at Hogwarts.
After today the students didn't have to worry about any more assignments, exams or presentations for tricky subjects.
So naturally it deserved a celebration of some sort. Like a party.
It was Ginny's idea. "Everyone needs this! A party might be the only way to make me forget I am about to take five exams back to back." She said days before the exams started when they were all sitting in the Common Room of the Four Houses of Hogwarts.
The Common Room of the Four Houses of Hogwarts was one of McGonagall inventions for house unity after the war. It didn't really bother anyone because the real house unity had already began.
During the summer after the war things naturally changed. For the better.
And the Golden Trio was no exception to that change.
Right after the war, Harry decided he wanted to do a bit of traveling. Seeing first hand what prejudice could do to a community, he decided that knowing other communities different from his own was the way to fight it. And traveling was the way to go.
But before doing anything at all he had talked with Ginny. It wasn't a particularly difficult conversation. Ginny understood and was happy for him. Although it was disappointing to admit, their flame had fizzled out. "Before anything else we were friends first Harry," she told him during a long hug at the end of their conversation.
So with Ginny's blessings and with only his wand and his backpack he started his journey.
He went to lots of places, but the place he surprisingly enjoyed the most was Thailand. There, he discovered his passion for Yoga.
While tricky at first, Yoga allowed Harry to start his self journey.
So now it was part of his morning routine before breakfast. He did it every morning.
By the black lake.
With spandex shorts.
He was better now. Less of a nervous mess. More in tune with himself and with the world around him.
And while Harry was gallivanting around the world, Hermione did some self reflection of her own too during summer.
She realized that while her hunger for knowledge would never cease (and thank Merlin for that), she could do a little less. Lay back a little. Relax a bit. Enjoy life more. Worry less. She came to the conclusion that even if she didn't start doing her assessments the day they were handed by the professors, it wasn't going to be the end of the world. Hell, she almost saw what the end of the world looked like last year and it wasn't that.
She also fell in love with a certain blonde, so maybe that helped a bit.
Turns out Draco Malfoy was still a snob (What did you expect? The man was filthy rich.) but he was no longer the same asshole. And after a heart warming apology, weeks of proving himself to her and a steamy snog session in August, her heart couldn't help itself and fell for that stupid blonde.
Draco took her mind off things. His voice was like sweet honey. She could talk about anything with him. So during the summer, there were a lot of random conversations.
And kissing.
And sex. Lots of sex.
So now she too was better. Happier.
Ron was the only member of the Golden Trio that didn't have a self reflecting summer. And that was okay. Because dates with Lavender took most of his nights.
So they were good. Better. All three of them.
But they still needed a party.
"We can do it in the Room of Requirement and that way no one has to lift a finger. Just show up with booze," Ginny said, trying to sell the idea to the gang. Well mainly to the Slytherins. They were wary because they had standards.
"Alcohol, Ginny? I don't think it's a good idea. What about the other years? McGonagall would flip if she found out. And you know Filch is on a mission to stay on her good side so if he finds out she'll know," said Hermione from her place next to the open window in the Common Room with her head on Luna's lap.
"Relax, Granger! Let's make it Seventh Years only then," responded Blaise.
Ginny gave him a small smile.
Ginny and Blaise were a recent development. Their relationship was at least. Their friendship began in the beginning of August.
While Harry’s summer was trying to perfect his yoga poses, especially the pigeon pose (or as he calls it, the Kapotasana, “It has a technique , mate. Getting into the pose is half the job.”) Ginny’s summer brought her close to the Slytherin crew.
Well, summer brought her close to one Slytherin.
Blaise.
In the end of July, she and Ron started to host get-togethers and some games of quidditch near the Burrow. It started with just close friends but when one day Hermione brought a smitten looking Draco Malfoy (and begged Ginny to ask him if he wanted to join), Ginny thought it might as well invite all of them next time and rip the band-aid off.
So the next time the gang got together behind Draco and Hermione came Theo Nott wearing a olive green snapback with his arm around Pansy Parkinson in cat eye sunnies, trailing a couple steps behind, trying to not let his Italian Pavlova fall, was Blaise Zabini.
Whether it was because Molly Weasly was her mum and she knew what good food was, or because the way Zabini offered to her his Italian Pavlova with the utmost care and took time to time to explain why he thinks the red berries topping is best for that summer day, Ginny’s heart melted.
And with every dessert he brought when he was over at the Burrow, with every bear hug after a quidditch game they won, with every cheer of encouragement while he was on the ground next to Hermione because he was too full with Molly’s famous Sunday roast to play quidditch, with every compliment he gave her, her heart melted more.
And little by little he was gaining a bigger place in Ginny’s life. So now they were trying. It was new but it was so beautiful.
“Did anyone say party? I’m offended that you brought this up without me, The Life Of Every Party, being present in the room,” Theo walked in the Common Room with Draco behind him immediately making a beeline towards Hermione. She opened her arms and gave him a long peck muttering a "missed you".
“Nott quit being a git and come help us with this. Can you two be responsible for the liquor?” asked Ginny pointing towards Draco and Theo.
Theo and Draco looked at her and then at each other and then back to her, shrugged and said in perfect unisound, “Sure.”
“Don’t bring just Firewhiskey, please” begged Lavender from her spot on Ron’s lap, in a purple velvet loveseat.
“No worries, babe. You know I’d do everything for you. I’ll even bring one of those tiny umbrellas for your cup.” said Theo, smirking because he knew it would strike a nerve with Weasley.
“Nott, it’s my girlfriend you’re talking to.”
Bingo.
“Easy, just having a bit of fun that’s all,” said a smiling Theo with his hands in the air in surrender.
This was Theodore Nott nature. A flirt. Everyone knew he meant no harm. But teasing was also in his nature so sometimes things got a little confusing.
This was a new Theo, though. The after-the-war Theo. The no-longer-under-his-father-cane Theo. ("Seriously mate, what's with Slytherin parents owning a cane?" (This was the question often asked by Theo during his late night talks with Draco)
Years of being under his father's strict guard, made him lose his spark, becoming almost numb to everything.
But then the war came. And his father, blinded by his hatred and his devotion to the Dark Lord, lost everything he had. The money, the power, his family and ultimately his freedom. Nott senior was sent to Azkaban a week after the end of the war.
While it was a difficult time in Theo's life, it was also freeing. He no longer had to worry about mentioning something he shouldn't because it was against his father's sick view of the world. He no longer had to imagine what it would be like to not feel the pain of the cane when he slouched or wasn't paying attention.
Now he was free of that.
And because of that Theo wanted nothing more than to have a nice time in life. So now he smiled, teased, gave absolutely no fucks. And if you asked anyone, they would say this is the real Theodore Nott.
“Okay, so now that the drinks are settled, what day do you all finish your exams?” asked Ginny, “‘Cause mine ends on the 9th and I definitely will need a drink soon after.”
“Oh, I have my Herbology final on the 10th and I know Pansy’s Potions final exam is on the 11th,” said Neville without taking his eyes from Flesh-Eating Trees of the World Vol.2 he was reading to help with the paper he had to write.
Blaise and Draco shared a look but said nothing.
Pansy and Neville were...secretive to say the least about their thing. Everyone knew about them. But at the same time no one really knew. Everyone saw them studying together. Everyone knew they spent time with each other when they weren’t with their group of friends. And everyone was pretty sure Neville was the mystery figure who delivered Pansy to her dorm every night.
Turns out Pansy still was a bit of a snob (it’s a Slytherin thing). But now she was a music snob. Since she discovered muggle music she can’t have enough of it. Although she knew a bit of everything, rock remained her favourite type.
So after one of her strolls around the castle at night (after curfew, because becoming friends with the golden girl and head girl Hermione Granger has its perks and this is definitely one of them) with her headphones on, she spotted Neville Longbottom talking with some plant in the greenhouse (apparently being Professor Sprout favourite student also had its perks).
When Neville saw her (at least 10 minutes after she spotted him because you see, Pansy’s new obsession with rock music also took over her closet and when she wasn't wearing her school uniform she was wearing black) he waved and signed her to come meet him in the greenhouse. After a full minute of deliberation, Pansy’s legs were taking her to him.
That night Neville learned that Pansy’s favourite flowers were camelias (“Camelias? It’s that a clever way to say fuck off to your parents because they named you Pansy?” “Well, of course” responded a smirking Pansy), and she found out that had already gone through a rock phase himself so he had the “best music recommendations”. Time passed and when the clock hit midnight Neville made sure to take her to her dorm.
This somehow became a routine. And after a well thought apology came dates in secret parts of Hogsmeade and one day goodnight kisses by the door of her dorm also became part of their little routine.
"Okay so what about the 13th? It's Friday. Draco? Hermione?" asked Ginny, interrupting a very quiet conversation between them about God knows what.
"Huh? Oh yes, sure" said the curly headed witch "Me and Draco finish on the 10th with Potions too. We have a date that night though. We might be a little late, but we'll be there"
"Time?" asked Harry while stretching his tight hamstring.
"9pm?"
No one was against it.
"It's settled then. Friday the 13th. Room of the Requirement. 9pm. We just have to pass on the word" said Ginny.
"It’s going to be a night to remember, that's for sure," said Theo mischievously.
And as Ginny and Blaise opened the door of the Room of the Requirement, and looked around spotting at least 5 mirror balls in the ceiling, balloons on the floor, sofas and loveseats scattered around the room, and a decent sized dance floor, they knew Theodore Nott was absolutely right.
It was going to be a night to remember.