Quarter to 6 PM
#12 St. Mary's Grove
Flickwick Residence

Summer was ending, it was a sad and sorry fact - but there were still three nights of freedom to cling to before it was back on the Hogwarts Express for another exciting year of lessons, teen angst, and narrowly escaping death. The last scenario was mostly assumed because the TWT students had arrived earlier in the month and it was obvious they meant serious business. They might have terrified Sophie a little if she had any intention of being a champion. As it stood she could just look at all the pretty boys (despite having one boy in particular on her mind). Were it possible to both feel dire dread and inexhaustible excitement at the exact same time, that was akin to what the pint-sized Gryffindor was feeling.  She wasn't ready to give up her freedom (or the summer-roommate she'd found in Ollie), but they had much to celebrate on this last dwindling dusk of summer. Ollie was coming back to school!

It was this announcement, and also the provided excuse to see a certain Slytherin she had not seen in person since before he snuck from her bedroom in the early morning hours of July  4th, that had prompted Sophie to want to throw a party. Of course Sophie didn't need much of a reason to throw a blow out, she could have made one up - like it being her 32nd half birthday or some bollocks but Ollie coming back to school was a real reason to gather everyone together. So they were. Sophie's was obviously the venue of choice given it's semi-remote location and lack of parental supervision. Nana had promised to stay out of the way short of a blood oath that Soph wouldn't let the house be completely wrecked. So the potions cellar was sealed as were all liquor cabinets by a rather powerful charm that Sophie did not happen to know the counter spell for. Spellwork was not her forte.

Neither was dressing for parties, apparently. She discarded half a dozen articles of clothing on the grounds they were "too childish" or alternately "trying too hard". It was a glance at the clock and realizing people would start trickling in that prompted her to throw on the nearest dress available, then it was down the stairs to putter around the kitchen and fret over the details, trying to decide if waiting to light the big fire was the best idea. Whatever else had changed over the summer Sophie and waiting still were not on the best of terms. The time "just before" anything were always hellaciously nerve wracking even when there was nothing for her to be particularly nervous over. To try and occupy her mind she fussed a bit with the sound system she had hauled up from Duncan's studio and flipped through the stack of records she'd begged off Tilly, eyes darting every so often between the floo and the front door

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[OOC NOTE: Feel free to have your characters arrive at your leisure. Small to medium posts are probably better than long ones (even though Merlin knows I never shut up). The thread is of course open to crashers and the like. Also, feel free to start your own threads once we're in the thick of things if you'd like to branch off from the group!]

Parties weren’t parties until Cornelia Heloise Woolfolk catwalked in, all sky-scraping shoes and summery blonde locks. But if there was a party that would probably be O+ amazing before her platform-clad toes hit the garden, it was this one. The promise of a huge bonfire, the setting sun, and the scent of lemonade were an uncomplicated and very welcome draw to the teenage jetsetter floosetter. Sometimes nothing could quite beat friends-- even run of the mill schoolmates who were also bound to be loitering amongst more familiar faces-- and a cup of pumpkin juice.

Neely traipsed out of the fireplace and into Sophie’s home, looking around with only the vaguest starry-eyed-ness while her gaze adjusted to the lighting. She grinned when she spied Sophie; the girl was one of her favorite Gryffindors. They were similarly tiny, sweet-cheeked things who could talk circles around most people (even if, in Neely’s case, what they were saying didn’t always make sense.).

“Sophie!” Neely gushed-slash-squealed. She came up behind her fellow soon-to-be-sixth-year and placed a girlish arm around her shoulder, peering ever nosily at what their hostess was doing. The stack of albums were impressive. Neely was sometimes jealous that her father wasn’t a rockstar instead of an international quidditch market entrepreneur. But she supposed she’d live. And she loved her father for exactly who he was. And he definitely loved Neely. (Demetrius would be the first to tell anyone who would listen to his sorry bum.) “Our last weekend of freedom! Can you believe how short this summer has been? Ugh, it should be against the law!” She frowned, eyes nevertheless intrigued by the candy pink album cover the other girl had just flicked past. “At least we’ll get the see all of the hotties who don’t speak English as a first language.” That was always a plus. Neely could tutor them in Neelylish. “And tonight is going to be amazing.”

Ollie had been spending the last couple days at home, which was back with her mum and not the make-shift home she had created at the Flickwick residences. Now that she was going back to school she was trying to even out her time with Sophie and her mother. Initially she had thought there was no hope in Azkaban that she was going to return to school and wished to spend as much time with her best friend as possible. With the exciting news that Ollie would be returning to Hogwarts she was making a point of spending time with her mother. Of course it was not as much as her mother would hope for but Ollie was a teenager after all, she might be a werewolf but she was first and foremost a teenager. It wasn't cool to spend all your time with your mum.

Ollie had gotten ready back in her room, dancing away to some music. Emma was going to enjoy the silence once Ollie was back at school because any time she was home she was always playing music perhaps a little too loud. To say that Ollie spent any level of time on her appearance would be wrong, her getting ready was to make sure her hair was not tangled and even that was pushing it. She was still wearing what she had worn earlier that day a pair of shorts and a tank top. She spent more time picking out which sneakers she wanted to wear for the evening. She also remembered to grab a sweater before she left to to the the Flickwick residence. Of course she just barely remembered to say good bye to her mum before flooing out the house.

Arriving on the residences had become second nature and she just felt like she had returned home. The house was basically her house, she had been to the point of actually spending time alone in the Flickwick residences and not finding it weird at all. She brushed her mop of now blonde hair away from her face and looked around the property seeking out the small little friend. She was dusting off what little soot she could, but then grunge Ollie was half expected by most these days. Fashion was not exactly in her lifestyle. "Sophie!" She called out but it did not take her long to find her, and she was not alone. "Hey Neely," it had been quite some time since she had seen the Slytherin.

Strellie sighed as she looked around her room for a last time. When she had been young, living in the small cottage had been a fantasy that she and her mother had taken in stride. It was like pretending. She had been only nine after all. She still had the wild fantasies of any small child and imagined herself as a stow away in a foreign land, pretending to be a commoner.

The story that she was writing in her head lived for a very long time, but as she spent more and more time at Hogwarts, it disintegrated to reality. She was living in a right hole. And expensive, beautiful hole, but a hole none the less. Even her brother lived in greater magnificence than the desposed Purebloods.

She nearly flooed before touching her neck and feeling emptiness. The necklace that Xavier had given her last May was lying on her dresser. It was a strange feeling to have it off, almost as strange as not wearing the enchanted diamond snake on her wrist. But Xav... Oh god, she couldn't even think about it. No she wouldn't even think about it! She was going to have fun at Sophie's and not give a damn about that bastard who was ignoring her. And he wasn't going to be  at Sophie's anyway. Scowling, she ran back up the stairs and clasped the necklace on. Screw it.

Finally, she flooed to Sophie's and landed with the other girls in sight, her scowl turned into a bright grin. Sophie, Neely, and Olivia. Her eyebrows raised at the sight of the other girl. My my it had been quite a while. She admitted, she knew hardly anything about the werewolf, but if she was friends with Sophie and at least genial with Neely, there would be no reason to be rude. No channelling Kitty tonight. "Well hello dears," she said, her green eyes twinkling from the reflection of the necklace.   

He'd gotten the invite last week, tapped it against his lips as he smiled. Only Sophie'd send him a party invitation. She was so determined to make friends with him, and after a brief period of suspicion Erin'd long since realized there wasn't really any reason to resist. So yeah, why the hell not, he'd go to her bonfire. The only fun he'd had all summer was when he escaped the house to visit schoolmates - this would hopefully follow the trend.

After all, going back to school would be all.... new and strange, what with all the foreign faces. Erin, who did not make friends easily at the best of times, did not anticipate any fun in that (except maybe some brawling with these newcomers who didn't know him and weren't forewarned). The Beauxbatons lot were going to be a bloody nightmare if Razzy had managed to get in on the visitor's list. Might as well do this, at the end of the summer, see where things stood before they all changed. And, well, he liked Sophie well enough. Maybe Luc'd be there too, or some of the Slytherins.

He didn't dress all fancy, just a t-shirt and jeans. He went through the floo and wandered out towards the yard, looking for the hostess or anyone else he knew.

And just like that all the waiting was over, first Neely arrived in her very Neely way and Sophie felt herself squealing-and-gushing back just as happily as she hugged the other girl with one arm, "This summer has been amazing," ok so that wasn't all the way true-true, there had been the whole her family basically abandoning her thing, and the fight with Luc after he tried to tell her how to dress... but all of that was behind them, and Ollie was coming back to Hogwarts. "Wait until you hear, I have the best news," she was of course cut off by the arrival of Ollie and then Mimi. Her smile brightened effortlessly and she bounced on the balls of her feet, trying to suppress a squeal. It had been June the last time she saw Strelnikov and even spending a night away from Ollie had suddenly become lonely for the Gryffindor. They were basically joined at the hip.

"Gordic's Garters! I'm so glad you're all here. I have no idea who else is showing up. I mean I assume Jordy will because I haven't talked to her all summer and why wouldn't she, and I invited a few fourth years because, you know, we have to break them in sometme," there was a little laugh tacked to the end of that, "Deus says he's coming but you never know with that one," there was a certain sort of sparkle in her eye, but it belied the nervousness she felt in her stomach. It was of vital importance that this party be absolutely amazing. It was meant to close out summer and (though not many of the guests knew it yet) also welcome Ollie back into the fold. Sixth year was going to be amazing, "I send Erin a note..." just then she stopped a familiar blonde head wandering past the window, "Ha! See! Secretly he loves me - even if he did want to leave me for a Yeti" setting the records aside she cupped her hands around her mouth, "Oy! Harper! Inside," loud Sophie was loud.

When Winifred Leigh Oliver had received her invitation to Sophie's bonfire she had literally squealed with joy and delight, running around the house with the slip of paper, and immediately begged her mother and father for permission to go. It was a party that a sixth year was hosting, and she had been invited! Though her parents were initially reluctant, they eventually agreed to allow her to attend- making Winnie promise she would behave and that she would not do anything she shouldn't. (Like drink if there was any alcohol being passed around or smoke any cigarettes.)

Her fashion sense had never been the best- but it was very unique to her. Winifred had gotten a new burgundy skirt over the summer, and paired it with one of the few shirts she had that also had the color burgundy in it. Most of Winnie's clothes were louder than her current outfit, but she wanted to be comfortable. Even her new boots didn't look too bad with the skirt in question.

Winifred flooed over to Sophie's house, and when she stepped out of the fireplace, carefully dusting off her clothes, beamed brightly at all of the people already there.

"Hullo Sophie!" she greeted loudly. "Thank you so much for inviting me! I'm so excited!" she could barely contain herself as a small squeal escaped her lips while she hugged the upper year she practically idolized. "You look so very pretty!"

Despite his ambivalence on the subject, Lucas Norwood had to admit the button down Caity forced on him, did make him look as she'd said "presentable."  Apparently he would be representing both of them that night, and as such could not be trusted to pick out his own clothes.   He wasn't sure who he needed to be impressing, but that was besides the point.  Luc temporarily claimed Johnny's room in the older boy's absence and even though he'd dumped his things in a specific corner, his clothes and books alike began to migrate through out the room.  He'd been putting off packing too many things in between trips, lugging a fully packed bag back and forth hadn't seemed worth his time or energy what with how much time he'd actually spent at the Flickwicks.  Now, however, he had approximately two days to sort everything, get it back to his parents and ship out on time to King's Cross. 

It been a few weeks since the shirt incident and several more since the other kiss and Lucas Norwood was more then happy to let them be non-issues.  Awkwardness lingered on the edges, but since Sophie declared things back to normal, it just been Luc festering in the leftovers.  Tonight though, tonight he'd decided to let it all go.  Tonight was a night of celebrating, even if he wasn't exactly the big party type.  Really, fighting with your best friend didn't ever lead anywhere fun.  Not that Sophie and he ever fought for very long, the record stood over third year at a week.  Generally though, one or the other gave up the silent treatment pretty quickly, a day or two at the most.  More often Sophie, but that had more to do with her inability to actually be quiet than any desire to end a fight early.

Even with the door closed and flights of stairs between them, he could hear people arriving.  Well, might as well suck it up and get it over with.  These things were almost never as bad as he built them up in his mind and besides... what was the worst that could happen? 

He took the stairs in twos, landing at the bottom in quick fashion.  Things weren't in full swing just yet and Luc's eyes darted around the familiar faces before landing on one in particular Erin Haper.

"Oi," he called to the blond Slytherin boy.  "How's you?"

It had been a long, long, long summer. Unlike the average teenager, however, Alfie's dwindling days hadn't been filled with non-stop partying, stolen kisses after unreasonable curfews and trying to prolong each day as term grew closer. No, it had been a lot less eventful. Days of reading had turned to weeks of studying, and with only his mother as company, the confines of their quiet cottage home had become a little unbearable. Of course, family visited as they always did, but Alfie was still reserved; they'd ask how school was, he'd lie and say it was fine. As a parent, Amandine had grown suspicious of a rather prolific bruise on his right shoulder - but he'd simply brush it off as a flying practice injury rather than having a quaffle thrown at him full pelt in the corridor.

Still, boredom in his own, isolated back garden was better than the constant taunts of feral students. If anything, Alfie was dreading returning to it all - there were few, if any, that he could label as friends. News of his embarrassing escapade with Neely and her entourage had spread around Hogwarts like wildfire (thank you very much, Kitty Li), and it was just another splatter of humiliation on Vaillancourt's woeful record. In addition to the 'serial killer daddy' and 'Ministry-sell-out mum' monikers, Alfie had the extra pleasure of constant laughing. How could he honestly believe a girl like Neely would hold such affections for him? The boy still scolded himself on a daily basis as the pit of his stomach bubbled nervously.

Taking apart an old magical camera one of his mother's cousins had given him, Alfie fiddled with it in the warm light of his back garden. His mother, appearing out of nowhere with her worried eyes and lying smile produced an invitation. The Sophie Flickwick party. At least she was one of the good people, but Alfie still wouldn't go. Amandine Vaillancourt persisted: it'd do him good to leave the house and see some schoolfriends, apparently. The Hufflepuff didn't have the heart to tell his mother that 'schoolfriends' were non-existent.

To cut a long story short, Alfie was forced to go. Donning a pair of old jeans, a t-shirt from the floor and the usual rucksack, he was driven in his mother's muggle car in the passenger seat all the way to Barnes. Amandine's penchant for vintage Ford automobiles was hard to stifle, but a few charms here and there made it move all that quicker. "Have fun darling," she smiled, genuinely pleased as her only child stumbled awkwardly from the car after planting a kiss on her cheek.

"I won't be home too late," Alfie insisted, his fingertips trembling at the thought of the party he was about to enter. A party. He'd never even been to a party before. Gazing at Sophie's impressive home, reluctant footsteps trailed him to the hubbub of quietly stewing action in her living room. People were already there. And Neely. Alfie made a beeline for Sophie, rubbing a hand through his messy brown hair. Ugh, this was painful.

"Hey, hello, Sophie," he greeted, keen to block out the eyes he could feel on his neck. After all, what as Alfie Vaillancourt doing here. "Thanks for the invite, I was just, like, popping in, I can't stay too long, just, around, in Barnes..." His answers stumbled, and were thoroughly unconvincing but he smiled, wishing such social torture would end.

It was a little odd, after the months of separation, to be surrounded by Hogwarts students again. He recognized most of these people, either via the house connection or via SAWs...and in a few cases a (deserved) tongue-lashing, courtesy of the prefect's badge he'd had.

It was also odd not to have that badge anymore, but the shiny one his had at home and on the job was better. As was the red uniform and the enchanted armor layers. He was having to restrain the innate urge to snoop and frown at people for anything that might be illegal; he was pretty sure you didn't get much experience from that. But every bit helped, right?

Dion stood a bit awkwardly. He'd come with Fauna specifically to see Ollie and make sure she was indeed going back to school in a timely manner - or, rather, to stand around officially while Fauna did that. The fact the bonfire was at Sophie's was an...well, a nice extra. This was also nothing like anything even remotely like a date, despite Dax's apparent choice to label it as such. The fact Dax was here also detracted from that, too.

He adjusted his vest, glancing sideways and down at Fauna. Dax had split off from them quite quickly to find himself something to eat - it was nice that some things never changed. "Did you tell Ollie you were coming?" He asked, scanning the gathering crowd.

The house was starting to get full and the sun was finally dipping low into the sky, casting shades of pink and purple through the large windows of the house. Darkness was coming on fast, the way it tended to do as Summer faded into Fall. There was a welling up in Sophie's chest - almost painful, but the good kind. It was this feeling of life, for just a moment, being exactly like it was supposed to be and she was exactly where she was supposed to be. She could be terribly sentimental like that, and seeing Winnie looking so grown up and people like Alfie stepping outside of their comfort zones, even the way Luc just came down the stairs like he belonged in her house (which admittedly he did) it just made her so happy!

Of course there was so much going on that it made it hard to greet everyone in the way she would have wanted. Winnie was given a fiercely tight hug by the tiny Gryffindor, while she tried to avoid gushing over how grown up the fourth year looked. That was something mother's said, Sophie's was no one's mother so she just squealed a little and said, "You look so pretty Win! I can't wait to hear all about summer and your adventures and just everything, you remember Neely, and Ollie, and Mimi yea? They all just got here too, and I've got to go say hello to a few other people, keep 'um company for me"? She smiled broadly and was headed to tell Luc he and Erin could start the fire now, probably, if they promised not to burn the entire place down when Alfie stopped her.

She didn't give him an exuberant hug on the grounds it might spook him, he didn't seem like the type who liked to be touched. Normally that wouldn't have mattered much to Sophie but she wanted him to feel comfortable and (having never heard about the whole Neely thing because Sophie lived a bit under a rock at the end of the school year) come out of his shell a little. Plus he'd be in Hufflepuff with Ollie, it'd be good for her to go back with a few more friends in her pocket. So Sophie settled for giving his hand a squeeze, "I'm glad you came by, maybe you could give Luc and Erin a hand with the fire? Or, there's loads of food in the kitchen and I promise my cooking won't kill you. We're all kind of scattered about so just make yourself at home," and then she was off to greet more people.

By the time she reached the cluster of graduates she was almost too preoccupied to think about the fact that Deus wasn't there yet, almost. Still, she gave Dax and Fauna each a quick squeeze in greeting, though she pressed a finger into the blonde boy's chest, "Harper is here. Please don't break anything over his head. You're a grown up now," before she turned to Dion and jumped a little, throwing her arms around his neck, "You gotta quit being so tall, Mustard, Some day I'll wear heels and I won't be able to leap for hugs without fear of breaking my neck". She was happy to see all of them! As she unwound herself from around Dion and smoothed her summer dress, voice mildly bemused, "I've really missed you Di, but you should maybe go supervise, um, the boys playing with fire".

Alfie almost recoiled at the squeeze of a hand, taken aback but not completely unsurprised by Sophie's hospitality. She was renowned in Hogwarts for being an affectionate character. Still, physical contact was a rarity for Alfie, especially from a girl. It was true, some did take interest in his boyish looks and enigmatic charm, but they soon found out this 'enigmatic charm' was nothing more than pure awkwardness and social inability. A boy that stuttered more than he blinked was usually a no-go area for cruel, teenage females.

Immediately bundling his hands into deep, lint-riddled pockets, Alfie half-smiled, a gasping laugh escaping his lips. "Oh, it's n-no problems at all. Thanks for having us - I mean, me." He winced, realising his own mistake mid-conversation. Soon enough, Sophie was ambushed by more guests and Alfie took his cue. Building a fire with Lucas Norwood and Erin Harper would be a welcomed, even pleasant task for most of the 'big gang' of his year, but Alfie was far secluded from this circle he may as well have gone to Durmstrang. Choosing to opt for the kitchen, Alfie kept his eyes down as he travelled that way, swallowing hard. Neely Woolfolk was so close he could almost smell her embarrassment. He just hoped the Wizengamot had passed a law forbidding Kitty Li and her army of harpies to show up at any social gathering.

The food Sophie had prepared was impressive, and Alfie was one of the first to foray into such culinary delights. He'd already eaten, but ignoring those wares would be rude. Cautiously taking a sandwich, Alfie nibbled at its corner, trying to surreptitiously recognise the faces of the party-goers without being noticed. Sinking into a chair at the side of the kitchen, he took a deep breath. It'd be rude to leave already...

Kelvin had almost forgotten about the party. It wasn't that he wasn't looking forward to it, but he was staying with his brother in London for the last few days of summer, and for the first time that summer had been able to relax some.  And the party had managed to slip his mind.  He managed to find a clean shirt and pair of jeans in his belongings that had managed in a short time to get thrown all over the guest room.  It wasn't the first t-shirt he would have picked, an old Star Wars shirt his father had gotten him a few years back that was now a bit on the tight side and just barely long enough, but it was apparently all that was clean at that point.

"Patrick!  I'm headed out!"  Kelvin shouted to his brother as he walked to the living room and grabbed a pinch of floo powder from the jar on the mantle. His brother entered the room just as Kelvin was about to throw the powder in. 

"Whoa there, where you off to?"  Patrick asked.  "A party," Kelvin replied quickly, "I don't know when I'll be back."  Patrick gave him a look that was a mixture of have fun and be safe before tossing him a light jacket. 

"Thanks" Kelvin said throwing the powder in and stepped in, saying his destination and not long later popping out of the Flickwick fireplace.  Dusting himself off, he looked around for Sophie.  Spotting her with people he was pretty sure had already graduated, he pulled on the jacket as he made his way over.

 "I've really missed you Di, but you should maybe go supervise, um, the boys playing with fire". He heard her say.

"Hi Sophie."  Kelvin said, hoping he wasn't interrupting.  "Thanks for inviting me.  Love the earrings" He finished awkwardly.

Mr. and Mrs. Wintergreen had expressed some modicum of doubt when Pax had explained to them that Sophie's party ('It's not really a party party, you know, just a nice gathering!') was going to consist primarily of older students ('They're all really responsible, like Sophie!'), but eventually, with persuasion, ('Besides, Fauna and Dion are going to be there, and they're Aurors now'), they had relented and agreed that he could go for a short while.

So Pax came bounding out of the fireplace in a flurry of emerald flames, not even feeling as travel-sick as he usually did after using Floo powder, wearing his smart clothes and a grin, and clutching a large bag of what looked like marshmallows. Not much phased anymore by so often being the shortest person in the room, he wove through the clumps of older students, smiling and waving occasionally and hoping he didn't look too much like a first-year. Well, second-year, practically.

Spying the hostess in a small group, Pax came to hover by the Ravenclaw who was greeting her, a boy he was fairly sure was in Baxter Fox's year. Calvin? Kevin? Not about to risk guessing, he simply said, 'Hello!' to the group at large, his smile widening a little more at noticing the two familiar faces that were Fauna and Dion. 'I brought magimallows,' he added more shyly, holding the bag out to Sophie. 'For the bonfire? I dunno if you've had them before. They're like marshmallows, except they get bigger when you roast them.' They also happened to be vegetarian, meaning Pax could eat them. Not that this fact had influenced his decision to bring them or anything...

Though Fauna had not had as much time as she'd wanted to get ready for Sophie's bonfire, she was here! Her laundry was piling up at home, so she'd thrown on jeans, a tank, and a floppy hat (from the clean pile). When they had first arrived, Fauna had told Dax not to throw a first-year at Erin, however much he was tempted, and stood awkwardly with Dion for a few moments with an odd sense of displacement. It felt strange yet familiar, surrounded by students and knowing she would not be seeing them at school.

Fauna was about to answer Dion's question when Sophie said hello. She relaxed a bit at the hug, feeling welcome.

"Great party," she told her with a smile, looking around at all the people. After Sophie hugged Dion and assigned him his task for the evening, Fauna nudged his arm.

"We should say hi to Ollie when..." Fauna trailed off, noticing the younger Slytherins currently talking to the girl. Even as a graduate and an Auror Trainee, Neely and Demitria still intimidated her.

"We should say hi before you stand watch at the fire," she told Dion in a teasing tone, knowing he was less comfortable at parties than even she was, and that he might have to be prodded to do things other than frown at students who broke the rules.

"Pax! How has your summer been? I got your letter," Fauna grinned at the boy with the magimallows. Thoughtful and adorable as always! Fauna also sent a wave at Winnie, who looked adorably grown up.