Title taken from "Young, Wild, and Free" by Wiz Khalifa.  M for mentions of underage partying, drug use and general debauchery.

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Spring holiday was well under way!  That could mean only one thing: the seventh years needed to do something. 

Everyone had been on edge recently and NEWTs were taking their toll on the people who actually took them seriously.  Indi was not one of those people, and thus, she was more concerned with how they were going to spend the last of their stay at the castle the best it could possibly be.  So, using the sources she knew, she gathered the requisite herbal need and decided that on the night of the 12th, there would be a seventh year blow out. 

It was part of the list[1] and it’d been a while since anyone had been up to doing anything.  Too much had happened and a most excellently started year was now winding down with a series of tragedies floating in its wake.  Indi simply couldn’t leave a place that had been such a positive force in her life like that. 

So, bonfire it was.  They’d be able to sneak out – no one really cared when they were on holiday.  The weather wouldn’t be dismal (she’d even checked and it wasn’t even supposed to rain!).  They could light a fire without reasonable fear that the entire forest would go up in flames as well.  Of course, Indi wouldn’t be handling that bit.  She had to enlist help. 

With her most faithful friends, they’d made their plan:  the party would start at 2300 and they’d all be responsible for aspect of the preparation.  With the other loyal planners[2], Indi arrived a bit ahead to set up - transfigure some chairs out of branches... set up the pit where they'd light the blaze... and maybe just take a few hits before anyone arrived to enjoy a little peace in nature before their friends started to arrive and disrupt some of the natural energy of the forest with their own.

1.	Seventh Year Bucket List Challenge
2.	Assume 1 or 2 other students

"I hope you brought the smokables cause I brought the drinkables, and I only had one...a few glasses already," Nicholas said when he finally arrived well behind the sounds of the clinking bottles he had in his bag that had preceded him in the quiet evening air.  Even with the heavy use of his supply, he still had plenty to bring.  And he had called in a few favors to get more sent.  The only hard part was getting it sent to Hogwarts; otherwise, he was old enough to buy whatever he wanted in muggle or wizard stores now.

He sat the bag down near a log that with a flourish of his wand turned into a serviceable table.  It wasn't anything fancy, but it would hold the alcohol and any food someone would hopefully bring since there hadn't been room in his bag to raid the kitchens.  "So I brought whiskey," he pulled a bottle out of the bag, "and whiskey," another bottle, "and whiskey," another bottle, "and oh bourbon,"  a final bottle appeared.  "Wait, I thought I had a vodka in there too."  He opened up the bag again before pulling out yet another bottle.  "And vodka."

He pulled his wand again and conjured a stool that was supposed to have been a chair.  "So, you starting the bonfire, or would like me too?"  He asked with a light in his eye that shouldn't have been there given the lack of a fire.  "Personally I say we throw some extra ingredients in so that everybody starts out having fun."

At that moment, the bonfire burst into flames.


“Over here, Nicholas!” Gracie emerged from around the fire pit, beckoning him with an eager hand. A wide grin – wider now, with his arrival – cut across her face; she pointed at an array of small covered tubs lined up underneath a table… decked out in a gleaming crowd of, that’s right—more alcohol.

Her other hand was a mess of sooty fingertips, still sparking from her newest party trick.

“Just shove them over,” she said, shaking off the last of them. “Actually, you know what–” She drew her wand then and pointed; another, emptier table appeared. “There you go.”

When Indi had asked for assistance in planning and set up, Gracie had been only too happy to agree; it had been some time since their last gathering, and after February they were long overdue for another one. Not only would a bonfire be a great way to unwind, it would also help everyone move on—remind them that they still had the rest of their lives to look forward to, and make the best of.

As a planner of her own fair share of parties herself, the Slytherin had made sure that word got out to the right ears and dipped into her own personal stash – and brews – for this very occasion. In another, smaller, more inconspicuous case, she had smuggled her very special brand of weed. Arriving early, she had set to work almost immediately.

“Did someone bring a wireless?” She looked between Indi and Nicholas, something sheepish seeping into her features. “I forgot mine.”

Virgil was supposed to have come earlier to help Kemp set-up for the bonfire - but he had been taking a nap after a heady evening of brewing practice potions, and woke up just in time to throw on a jacket and join the others shortly after Bevans made an appearance. He carried a portable Wireless by its leather strap in one hand, an unlit joint of gillyweed in the other.

"Here," he called out as he emerged from a dark cluster of trees into the firelight of the clearing. His blonde hair stuck up in odd directions and there was a muted quality in what would normally be a brighter pair of eyes. "Music at your disposal."

Something like a lazy, theatrical bow in the direction of Indi and Gracie. A sleepy smile at Nick's conglomerate of alcohol. God, they were going to have a real go at it tonight. Virgil popped the Wireless on the table and begin to fumble with the dials, holding his toke between his lips. He hadn't drunk or smoked anything today so far.

His NEWTs revision rule was to get his studying agenda for each day accomplished before he could approach inebriation. It worked half of the time.

"What do you lot want to listen to?" Crackling static overlapped the various sounds of different stations, musical or natter. "Goblin rock? Banshee pop? Something actually good?"

"As long as it's not that whiney boy band crap we should be fine." Peyton nodded to the Slytherin with the wireless as he joined the group. The Quidditch Captain was on good terms with pretty much anyone and everyone that could hold a conversation with him regardless of house. He had always been on rather neutral ground with most their year with the exception of his brooding half brother. As long as they didn't have beef with him, Peyton didn't have beef with them.

He came around behind Nicholas, ran a hand over the other teen's shoulder before picking up one of the bottles of whiskey and finding somewhere to sit around the bonfire. He wasn't sure how 'public' his paramour wanted their situation to be so he figured he'd wait to follow his lead.

Peyton unsung his own bag, "I wasn't able to get anything from the Kitchens but I brought a few bags of crisps." He unclasped his bag and pulled out the snacks, placing them on the table Gracie had conjured before settling back in and uncapping the bottle of whiskey. He wasn't a huge drinker and he certainly wasn't a smoker but they were on Spring Holiday. Which meant he could indulge a little without having to worry about an upcoming Quidditch game. He also may or may not have been there to make sure Nicholas didn't overdo it with the festivities. 

This was better than Indi could have imagined.  Though she didn’t partake in alcohol herself, she was glad Nicholas had decided to provide even more.  Her eyes widened as bottle after bottle appeared from the bag and she clasped her hands under her chin, just beaming with excitement as she bounced on her toes.  “This is going to be a bloody good party!” she laughed and glanced over where Gracie had already volunteered to light it up. 

Before she could say anything, the flames burst forward and Indi actually squealed.  “You’re both brilliant!” Indi decided and emptied her pockets of her own stash, ready to hand it over to Gracie now that she wasn’t lighting things on fire and potentially having the gilly go up with it.  Slipping it into the other girl’s hand, Indi bit her lip.

She knew she forgot something.  Thankfully, Virgil appeared carrying a wireless in hand.  Arguably, they had some of the most willing to party seventh years here and according to Gracie, everyone worth it knew about the bonfire and they were all going to come.  That  was a comforting thought.  It was nice to be a kid for the day, not think of anything serious.  Not consider that the year was coming to a speedy end and they all had dealt with way more than they needed to deal with at their age so bonfire it was. 

Plus, they’d all score huge points in the Bucket List Challenge.  It was the spirit of the thing: a need for something to let loose, and here it was.  Indi’s grand idea materialized into reality.  Digging into her pocket again, Indi extracted a joint and lifted it to her lips, lighting the end with a gentle flame from the tip of her wand.  “Ghostfly,” she exhaled and then held the joint between Gracie and Nicholas for one of them to take, “Four Horsemen, if no Ghostfly.”  She smiled at Peyton as he arrived, "Are those good enough for you?" she asked with a husky laugh.  She wasn't a Point!Me girl, like some of their classmates, which was probably what he was referring to.

Xavier watched the bonfire spark as he lit a cigarette of his own. He had gone for a walk earlier after helping Indi, Slant and the others prep things for the party. He was feeling a little worn out but looking forward to the night that was ahead of them. Despite himself he had actually spent the past two days packing in some studying between working on a personal project. He didn't want to admit it but his afternoon chat with Jordyn had inspired him to try a little harder. Everyone around them was worried about the upcoming exams. Xavier found he did better on the spot rather than trying to memorize and regurgitate facts but something about the head girl caused a bit of a spark. He figured it couldn't hurt to try things her way.

As the alcohol was brought out Xavier moved toward the bonfire. He had his own flask to drink from but he may have to stock back up depending on how the night went. He gave an imperceivable nod to the Ravenclaw before conjuring up a few bowls and pouring the collected crisps into them. He hadn't spoken to the older teen since their conversation about the lie detecting experiment in Potions. He still had no idea what the he had been on about but he also wasn't looking to repeat the experience. The whole thing still left him with an uncomfortable feeling and nagging itch at the back of his mind like he had forgotten something important.

"Sumthin' we cin dance ta or sumthin ta relax ta." He gave Indi a smile, content with his own cigarette for now, "Four 'orsemen ain't bad neitha."

Spring. It was Zia’s favorite season, after summer. British summers were like Italian springs, with a lot more rain. Having spent more and more time in the UK over the past several years, Zia had become accustomed to the dreary weather, like it, even.

Spring was a time for fresh start, for things to grow and flourish and come alive. And those were all things that Zia was more than ready for. In one of her bottomless bags she had several bottles of wine in a variety of colors, shades of red and pink and gold. She also had a gigantic bottle of champagne. Zia felt that no party was truly complete without a bit of the sparkly.

Zia wandered over by Indi and the rest of the seventh years who had gathered. She pinched the joint up to her lips when it came her way, then passed it on. She took a deep breath and then glanced around at the scene. They were good on alcohol, it looked like.

“Balthazar¹,” Zia proclaimed as she set the large bottle of champagne amongst the other bottles of alcohol. “16 bottles of champagne.” Of course they would not be drinking all of that champagne - at least, she didn’t think so. She figured that as a bunch of young witches and wizards, they could get creative with the uncorking. She dropped her bag and took out a bottle of red and a bottle of white² without looking much at the flavor. She figured the difference between Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay was not so offensive with this crowd. “Who wants to pop it?” 

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1  champagne bottle sizes
2 these are bottles of Whine, but as they're from Italy the labels are written in Italian. So this is SURPRISE Whine!

Taking a hit of the joint and then passing it on, Nicholas stared at the table Gracie had added.  "Fine, yes your table is prettier Gracie," Nicholas mocked though with a slightly wild wave of his wand the bottles left on his table zipped across the clearing to the other table that Gracie had conjured.  Nearly bashing several people in the head on their way.  "Oops, sorry."

He stood up from the stool he'd conjured and walked over to his table.  He looked at the table for a moment before a smile started forming, with a careful sober wand wave and jab the table morphed into a large grey cloth covered curved sectional sofa ending in a chaise lounge[1] that he immediately laid down; propping himself up on an elbow and giving an unmistakable come hither look to Peyton.  "Should have brought toga's, could have had a Roman party.  A Roman orgy.  That's it, we need music we can make out to."

"ZIA!"  Nicholas shouted, happy to see the girl that he'd also slept with and that she wasn't holed up in her room by herself, and she came bearing even more alcohol.  He hoped someone was taking pictures cause he wasn't sure he was going to be able to remember much.  Then again, maybe not.  And between the alcohol he'd already consumed and the hit of gillyweed, he couldn't stop the next comment from tumbling out of his mouth, "I'm pretty sure it's already been popped—had already been popped."

1.	Image of sofa

As more and more of his peers trickled into the clearing, Virgil tweaked the dials of the Wireless set to find a trace of Four Horseman on one of the frequencies - he didn't pay much mind to the natter being exchanged. More alcohol was being brought along and Nick had predictably suggested an orgy; neither of these things suggested a good time.

If they drank too much nobody would even remember tonight.

The Wireless abruptly fell into clarity, rough but pleasing voice of the band singer spilling out over a background noise of disharmonious guitar. Virgil turned back to the group and used his wand to light his own joint.

"Are we bringing the lounge to the forest?" he looked between Gracie and Nick, snorting softly with a gesture at the table and sofa. "If I wanted hastily charmed furniture I'd have stayed in the castle."

They were in the Forbidden Forest, a natural setting that theatrical productions aspired to replicate. And here they were, polluting it with their manmade comforts. Virgil ambled over to the last of fallen trunks surrounding the bonfire before dropping to the ground. He leaned against the log and tipped his head back.

Gillyweed smoke dissipated into the night. "I'll do the honours Piselli." Virgil ignored Bevans' popping comment, taking it for drunken rubbish, and accio'd one of the champagne bottles. "Watch your faces, you lot."

He gave the bottle a bit of a shake before sticking it between his thighs, straddling the glass body firmly. The prefect held his toke in his mouth as he tapped the tip of his wand to the cork.... once. Twice. Thrice.

And then, quickly grabbing the neck of the bottle, he watched the cork shoot off[1] with a loud POP! and sizzling hiss; white foam spilled decadently over the rim on to his long fingers.

Virgil laughed and carried the joint away as he raised the bottle above his head, catching lush trickles of champagne with his tongue. It was a good, mild dryness. He swallowed and held it out for someone else to take. "That's all the champagne for me tonight."

1.	Feel free to assume this might have hit you - or just fallen into the fire.

Studying too much was even beginning to wear Asher down.  He'd been stressing about everything like most of his fellow seventh years and then he heard the mention of something fun to do. 

Asher didn't usually follow along with the crowd, but he knew if he kept at the pace he'd been going, he would be even more stressed to the point where he would probably fail something.  So he followed some classmates out towards the Forbidden Forest.

Reaching the now brightly burning fire, he laughed to himself.  This might actually be fun, although from the amount of alcohol on the table and those few smoking something, it could turn out to be a rather interesting night.

He moved over to an unoccupied piece of ground and unceremoniously sat down with his legs out in front of him, ankles crossed, and leaned back on his hands.  He'd see where this was going to go before partaking in anything.

Eli, in typical Eli fashion, had pregamed before the event. His goal was to smoke so much gillyweed that he entered a new dimension. Responsible? Perhaps not. Doable? Potentially. He was high when he had helped Indi set up, and he was still in that state of mind, though not quite in another dimension. His body felt relaxed, and he certainly did not want to move from his position on the ground.

Yes, he knew that there was transfigured furniture. He'd helped with that. The forest floor was so appealing though.

"I hear bottles." He mumbled, twisting around so he could get a sight of Nick. Liquor. Perfect.  "Does the bourbon make you one with nature? Because I think laying in the dirt does."

He was quiet for a moment.

"Did anyone bring edibles? I'll strip for a gillyweed brownie."

 As the crowd began to grow, Indi was so thrilled.  Clasping her hands in front of her, she surveyed the people in attendance.  Every house was represented and some people you would never imagine gathering together in the same space and just enjoying each other’s company, despite some of their past interactions. 

It was almost the end of their time in school together anyway – hatchets could be buried and whatnot.  She waved enthusiastically at Zia before bounding over to Eli.  She hovered over him, looking down with a bright, sunny smile.  “Out here everything makes you one with nature!” 

It was true enough and instead of joining him on the floor, Indi looked up and set her sights on a branch hanging low.  She wasn’t the most adept, but she knew she could do this.  With a flick of her wand and swinging it in a low swoop, the branch dipped and started to transform – a rope dangling down and fabric starting to appear.  A chair formed and Indica crawled into it. 

She sat cross-legged in the cradle of the seat and beamed outward.  “Someone! Get this man a brownie and a song to dance to!” she leaned forward, gripping onto the seat to look out and over him, “It’s never too early for a lap dance.” 

The entire way out of the castle, Jordyn fretted.  Obviously, she was not invited to this gathering and the only reason she’d even heard about it was Neely who was far more connected to social things going on at the castle.  So, when she decided that she was going, that meant that she was trying to drag Jordyn along as well.[1]  Sure, she left her badge behind in the dorm – encouraged to perhaps not emphasize that part of herself at a party.  Frankly, she felt naked without it – even with all the layers. 

She’d insisted she was entirely unwanted at such a thing, but now, here she was, standing at the edge of an event where many of the classmates she routinely took points from or put in detention were here… with so much stuff that could get them in trouble. 

Eyeing bottles and joints (yes, she actually knew what they were… even if she had to ask before), she tugged her shirtsleeve down over her gloved hands and rolled the fabric between her thumb and forefinger.  She worried about a professor hearing the music, smelling something, or just finding them all out here and they’d all get detention… she’d probably lose her badge…

The panic gripped her a little bit and she wandered closer to the group.  They had popped some champagne and were talking about lap dances and Jordyn’s eyes bugged out a little.  To even enjoy this a little bit she was going to have to do something.  She certainly wasn’t going to reach for any gillyweed – that could get someone in real trouble.  At the very least, she was seventeen and alcohol seemed like a reasonable thing.  It had, after all, in the past been something guaranteed to loosen her up.  In a moment of true surprise, she actually took Virgil’s cue and grabbed the bottle from him in her left hand. 

With a quick, relatively silent flick of her wand, several cups set themselves out and she began to levitate the champagne bottle to carefully pour.  It was her version of offering an olive branch.  Of course, she prayed not too many eyes were on her as she grabbed the cup on the end of the table and lifted it to her lips taking a very tiny sip as her eyes darted around looking for Neely.  Where had she gone? 

1.	Permission granted by Tor.

Peyton smirked at the come hither look Nicholas had given him. On that cue he took another swig of the bottle of whiskey he had grabbed before repositioning himself. He wasn't about to lie down with the other teen but he was certainly comfortably close to him, running fingers through the Gryffindor's hair once he had settled in. Nick was already knee deep in his vices but at least tonight he was partaking in a social environment. Peyton couldn't fault him for that. Especially not when the Quidditch Captain was planning on getting sloshed himself.

He bristled only slightly when Nicholas made his comment to Zia, more for his fellow Ravenclaw's sake than out of any sort of jealousy. While he didn't see the appeal in the petite girl himself it wasn't exactly a secret that Bevans and Piselli had slept together, especially after Whitman had walked in on them (or so the rumor goes) Peyton wasn't jealous, Nicholas wasn't his boyfriend and he had known for years that the Gryffindor swung both ways, he just felt the girl was better off without his paramour's . . . comments. He gave Nick a look asking him to play nice, which really, in all honesty was like asking a dragon not to breathe fire.

Peyton smirked across the bonfire. A part of him wished he had a gillyweed brownie just to take Eli up on his offer. He had never been drinking with the Slytherin personally but he had heard a few stories of how unattached Eli was to his clothing when alcohol was involved and really the more eye candy present at a party with booze and weed the better.