Butterbeer & Best Friends
Harry sat with rapt attention as Remus recounted various tales of his time at Hogwarts with Harry’s parents. They were stories both humorous and sad in a way, about the successes and failures of the ‘Marauders’ as Remus called them. As much as the name seemed to imply some roguish dashing band the stories Remus told portrayed a much more gray behavior spectrum. This added to Harry’s already strong desire to not follow in his fathers footsteps thanks to Mrs. Grimores comments about James Potter.
Harry may be young, he may not have known his parents, but he still knew in his heart what was right and what was wrong, James Potter was no villain, but in his youth he was no hero either. That is not what Harry wanted to be, no, Harry wanted to strive for better things, to be a bully would spit in the face of what he knew from the bullying he himself had faced.
Harry James Potter most certainly would never be a bully if he had any say in it, he may have his fathers middle name but he was not his father.
Finishing their conversation with a rather awkward embrace Harry stood to leave and rejoin Griselda, Remus stopped him… “Just know this Harry, even if I could not be there for you in these last nine years, I want to be now that you have rejoined our world.”
“Thank you Remus.” Harry smiled sadly, the man was nice, but he barely knew him. Harry in the short life he had was far from the trusting type. Even if he was telling the truth, who knew if things would get better. Everyone who helped him ended up disappearing one way or another.
It was best to stay with the Dursleys Harry thought, he had the Grimores, but only because he kept to his tormentors. Luck was a rather fickle friend, one can never really know which direction it will swing.
Moving onwards Harry picked Griselda out of the crowd gathered around the tables laden with finger foods and drinks which fizzled and popped. She was standing with a group of similarly aged girls all dressed in rather fine embroidered robes which shimmered in the floating torchlight of the garden. Done up like that, they still did not compare to Griselda in Harry's mind, she was like a princess from the stories he had stolen from Dudley, she did not just glow, she sparkled.
Despite her sparkle, the smile on her face was not one of pleasure, rather a polite mask of discomfort. So this is what she had meant when she said she much preferred Harry’s company to that of the other witches her age. He did imagine for her social standing playmates would be quite the spoilt little princesses and that most likely did not earn any points with Griselda. She may be a rich pureblood, but she was far from prissy or spoilt.
“Griselda!” Harry called, reaching his right arm up to wave to her while the left remained in the pocket of his robe. He smiled knowing she would smile back, and was not disappointed. If he knew nothing else, Harry did know he had a slight bit of a savior complex. To do the good deed for those he cared for felt nothing if not right, just as he had done for Ms. Platters back in primary when he found her being harassed on the streets after school.
“Harry! Finally done with your chat are you?” Abandoning whatever polite conversation she had been holding with the other witches Griselda hitched her robes in her hands and sprinted towards Harry. She enveloped him in a hug before pulling back and beaming at him. “Now I can show you all the fun foods mama got! There's candy and sandwiches and tarts, you’ve got quite a bit to learn when it comes to the best snacks of the wizarding world and now's a great time to learn.”
“Sure thing…What first?”
“Well, how about a drink, im sure you’re parched after all that conversation with your godfather. Old people can be rather boring, talking all that length.” She smiled conspiratorily and despite Harry’s disagreement with the statement he found himself smiling back. Before she moved to the refreshment table however Griselda turned to Harry and leaned in to cup his ear in her hands, she whispered. “Thanks Harry, you saved me.”
“My pleasure Griselda…”
“Awww Harry! You can call me Zel you know, like mama does, you’re a real friend you know that.”
“Okay Zel…” Harry tittered. “What's there to try first?”
“Well, we can start with a butterbeer, I assure you this is nothing like the beer of the muggle world. It's much, much better. Despite the name its only got the tiniest bit of alcohol and is sweet and refreshing unlike anything you’ve had before I'd wager.
“Only the tiniest bit?” Harry laughed, “are we really allowed to drink this?” As far as he knew children weren't supposed to consume alcohol in any amount, but perhaps wizarding biology differed.
“Oh I'm sure it's fine Harry, we’ve been drinking this for centuries, no ones quite sure what's in it, well us who don't make it that is, If it was so bad they would have banned it right? Come have a glass now Harry!” Griselda ushered Harry towards the refreshments table to where they sat in a magically icy mist dozens of glasses filled with a frothy yellow liquid, glasses dripping with perspiration.
Taking a glass from the table Harry clinked drinks with Griselda and downed his first gulp of the cool refreshingly sweet substance, marveling at the taste he began to laugh. “It is good!” Harry exclaimed, turning to Griselda to find her nursing her own glass already half empty.
“See, I would never lie to you would I Harry?”
“I suppose not Zel. What's next?”
“Gosh Harry, “ Griselda laughed at him, eyes crinkling in amusement, “finish your drink first you silly boy.”
In response Harry just put on a voice of subservience. “Yes ma’am, I will not disappoint you.” Giggling alongside her they clinked drinks again in cheers, uncaring of the small amount that spilled out onto their hands coating it in a sticky syrupy film.
It was nice to have fun with his friend Harry thought to himself, there wasn't much he cherished, but a cool drink and a comfortable companionship with easy laughs was certainly high on the list. Harry drained his Butterbeer in 3 large gulps burping loudly to his and Griselda's amusement before he cleared his throat and asked her. “So, now…what's next?”
“Merlin's Beard Harryyyyy! Do you really have to be so darn impatient?” Griselda whined yet her face betrayed her lack of ill temper, she was just as impatient as Harry was and she damn well knew it. “Time to try some snacks, come on then Harry!”