Lavender needs a break tbh
When Neville emerges from the passageway with the happiest expression she's seen in maybe the whole of the year, Lavender knows somethings up. Something good? But is that too much to hope for? Luna's been MIA for months now, so it can't be her. And she's sure Nevilles crush on Ginny Weasley has passed. So not a girl. But then, what? Thankfully she doesn't have to wait long to find out, because Neville is saying something and then three figures appear behind him. And she knows them. She would recognise that bushy hair, and those glasses anywhere. And Ron. He's taller than she remembers. And he seems more muscular? Had he been working out? But that's a stupid question. Of course he would get 'excersise' or something of the like on the run from Voldemort. The room seems frozen for a moment and noone says a word. Only a moment. Then everyone springs into action, the realisation of what's just happened hitting them. She hears cries of "Oh my god!" And "HARRY!" "Ron?" "Hermione!" And still, no one moves. Until Seamus, always bold, steps forward and pulls Ron and Harry into a hug, a smile on his face like Lavender hasn't seen since he told her Dean wouldn't be returning for their Seventh year. People move then. Parvarti runs to Hermione and grips her in a hug that surprises both Lavender and Hermine herself. The girls had never been close. Nothing like separation to bring people together, Lavender mused. Lavender herself stepped towards the trio when people were finished hugging them and before they thought to hound them with questions. "Harry, Hermione," she greets them, a shy smile gracing her lips. To her surprise, Hermione gives her a gentle hug, "It's good to see you," She sounds honest. Harry smiles at her, telling her how she's so strong for putting up with everything the Carrows put them through. So Neville has updated them, then. "Thanks," Lavender smiles modestly, she knows she has grown and changed plenty since they last saw her. Her eyes flit to Ron, then. He is watching her cautiously. Like he is worried that she holds the breakup against him. In case she is angry. She doesn't have it in her to be mad. "Ron," she says simply, allowing a genuine smile to take over her features. He seems suprised then, but not nearly as suprised as he must have been when she threw her arms round him in a friendly embrace. "You look good. Or at least better than I thought you would," she teases, and he laughs. It's easier than she even hoped it would be. "I'd say the same to you, but bloody hell..." Ron gestures to the bruises on her neck and face, she'd stopped concealing them months ago. Lavender shrugs at that. "It's not so bad," And it isn't. Not really. At least she isn't a muggleborn. Ron opens his mouth to reply but is cut of by a few cries. At first Lavender thinks she will have to fight someone, and she realises how umprepeared she is. That her guard is completely down. But she realises the screams are of delight. She turns to see another three teenagers running into the room, through the crowd. Ginny Weasley in the lead, but she hasn't been worrying about Ginny. A pretty blonde is gripping Ginnys hand and beaming around the room. Luna Lovegood. So she is OK. If she was paying more attention to the girl she would see the more-than-friendly glances the blonde sent the girl she had attached herself too. And the way her face lit up when she noticed Neville Longbottom beaming right back at her in the crowd. But Lavender wasn't paying Luna any attention. It's the boy to Ginny's left that has Lavender's heart skip a beat, and sends her glancing around the room to lock eyes with Seamus Finnegan. But the boys eyes are already fixed on his 'Muggle-Born' friend (more-than-a-friend?) And she sees the exacts moment that Dean notices Seamus, because his eyes light up and his face breaks into a grin to wide it rivals her own. Forget that. It knocks her own out the damn park. The look in his eyes is love. Pure and true, and Lavender would envy it if she wasn't so damn happy. For them. For herself. Because she missed Dean too, goddamnit. And suddenly Dean practically flies past Ginny, and the crowd parts for him, knowingly. He is met halfway as Seamus throws himself into his friend's (boyfriend's?) open, waiting arms, and is swept of his feet. Literally. The whole rooms eyes are on them, if only for a second. Because that's probably how quickly it happens. Watching them feels like an intrusion. Lavender wants to look away but she can't seem to tear her eyes away from the boys' reunion. They stand in each others arms for a while, not knowing that Lavender can't look away. Not caring who watches them. And that's love, and she wants it. Needs it. Everyone else seems to understand privacy (sort of) and now fix their attention on Ginny Weasley, who still hasn't moved. Her face is unreadable. Expressionless. Scanning the room. Until she lays her eyes on the trio at the front of the room. Or, more specifically, on Harry. She walks slowly towards him, Lavender thinks she can seem her shaking a little. Harry doesn't move for a moment, then he does and he moves fast. Sweeping her into the air and spinning her around in a perfect parallel to her friends earlier reunion. Until Ginny presses her lips to Harry's and kisses him. They kiss like the need eachother, like they would die if they didn't. Rushed and not at all gentle and Lavender sighs sadly. She needs this. She needs love. No amount of telling herself that she is fine alone will do. Because whilst she knows this to be true, isn't life just that much better when you have someone to share it with? "Honestly, it's like I'm not even here!" Lavender chuckles softly at Rons comment and hears someone retort with, "Well she's got six brothers, there's only one Harry," And again, a smile sits on her lips. She hasn't smiled so much all year as she has in this one day, and it makes her laugh, eyes searching for Parvarti, wanting her best friend to share in her joy. And there she is, eyes wide with glee and arms wrapped around a smiling Dean. Parvarti has less bruises than Lavender. The professors didn't hit her to often- not for lack of trying. But between Padma and Lavender, Parvarti had been somewhat protected. Lavender made her was towards her best friend in a few strides, and threw her arms around Dean and Parvarti- who were still standing closely together. "I can't believe you're here, like you're really here. And you're completely alive!" Lavender gushed happily at Dean as she gripped him around the torso with one arm, she other around Parvartis shoulders. They couldn't rebel in their glee for too long though- because Harry Potter must have returned for a reason. And they needed to know why.
Sure enough, the trio haven't returned to hang out in the Room Of Requirement. There is work to be done. Something to find, they suspects it's some lost diamden, or whatever. Diadem? Some sort of crown or tiara, Lavender thinks.
Luna takes Harry to the Ravenclaw common room to search for it, though Lavender really doubts that it will be there. Meanwhile, people begin to arrive.
Fred and George, and two older boys who share their red hair. She thinks she heard them call the younger Charlie.
The older is handsome and stands with his arm around a beautiful blonde woman who Lavender recognised as the Triwizard champion from Beauxbatons in her fourth year, Fleur Delacor. Though Lavender heard that she married the oldest Wealsey brother.
Many people who she doesn't recognise arrive, a pretty young woman with pink hair and a group of important looking men about her fathers age. Lavender even thinks she sees Professor Lupin.
People seems both excited and tense, it's a strange aura of emotion. She can't help wondering what Professor Tralawney would have to say about this all.
All Lavender can do is focus on staying calm, her hands grip the chair she sits in tightly and she taps her feet impatiently. She is desperate to know what is happening.
Parvarti must notice, because she looks up from the spell book that she has been pouring over and reaches across, taking Lavenders hand in her own and squeezing it gently.
If their fingers stay entwined until they go to fight, neither of them say anything about it.