An Idea
The girls' nights rotated houses, depending on the week. Whoever was hostessing got to pick the cocktail of the night and the movie that would keep the kids out of their hair. Pansy was hosting this week, her ranch style home offered plenty of space (the theater room for the children and an informal living room with cushions, several chaises and sofas a plenty for the adults). Pansy lived to entertain and her home showed it.
During a lull in the conversations Pansy floated a tray around to each woman with a fresh Hibiscus Vodka Cocktail. Once everyone had grabbed their drink, as Pansy took a sip, she scoffed.
“I’m sick of this. I’m bored. I am tired of being a mum and a wife and that’s it. I am so tired”
“Cheers” the room echoed with equally exhausted replies.
“I feel like I am a roommate half the time” Daphne groused, rubbing her hand over her VERY pregnant belly. “If we’re not making a baby, we are taking care of the other babies, or cleaning or cooking or sleeping. I want to be more than the woman birthing the next generation of Weasleys.”
Luna nodded “I understand” her voice chimed in. “It feels like the only reason anyone reads the quibbler is because I am married to the ‘Chosen One’. Harry doesn’t ask what story I am working on, he just tells me about his cases or the latest misadventure with Draco.”
Luna looked to Hermione who could only giggle and nod her head.
“Hermione, do you feel like your husband is married to mine?”
Hermione spluttered on her drink. “Nooo, I can’t say that I do.” Hermione sniffled and tapped her temple, emphasising that she REALLY was thinking about Luna’s question.
“I suppose Draco can talk about Harry a little too much, verging on obsessive.”
Pansy snorted, “Sounds like Hogwarts all over again.”
“Feels like it. They’re basically regressing back to being boys again” Ginny said, as she angled herself on the chaise to look at the women. “I walked into the ‘Man Cave’ the other day and Blaise and Theo and Ron were wrestling while the kids watched.”
The women collectively rolled their eyes with several mumbles of “Sounds Right”.
“I wish he would roll around with me again,” Ginny said, running her fingers around the rim of the glass, staring at the drink like it was a crystal ball. “So what do we do?”
The silence in the room mocked her. Mocked all of them. Everyone was fed up, but no one had an actual solution.
Astoria tossed her drink back, slamming her empty glass on the side table.
“We make them pay attention! We won our wizards before. Let’s do it again!”
Astoria’s exclamation had all the other witches in attendance sitting up. They were intrigued.
“Please, tell us your master plan” Daphne said, gesturing with her mocktail for her sister to continue.
“I propose a friendly competition. Each woman has to seduce their husband to trick them into skipping out on ‘Boys Night’. Whoever does the best job of making their man become an absolute simp gets bragging rights.”
All the girls begin nodding, flashes of excitement in their eyes. Everyone except for Hermione. She twisted a curl while chewing on her bottom lip.
“But how do we decide who wins? And what do we ‘Win’” Ginny asked. The idea of competition lit a fire inside her and started her mind reeling with ideas.
“Bragging rights?” Astoria suggested.
“What about a weekend at an animal sanctuary?” Luna chimed in. Several of the women groaned.
“All expenses paid trip to this nude island retreat I read about. It looks like it’s to die for” Pansy purred. A chorus of groans followed.
“That’s all? There has to be a prize all of us want” Daphne declared, rubbing her stomach again.
“Ladies!” Hermione perked up. Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “What about money? Our husbands' money?”
This had everyone's attention.
“Oh do continue!” Pansy leaned forward, waiting with bated breath.
“Each of us pledges 1,000 Galleons to the pot. Whoever wins, gets the money. Not that any of us needs it”.
As Hermione explained, Daphne’s eyes bugged a little. While she still had access to the Greengrass accounts at Gringotts, Ron didn’t have the same funds as the other men in the group. They lived comfortably, but they definitely didn’t have the homes like the other couples.
“I suppose that is fair,” Luna murmured, “but how do we decide the winner? I understand what we have to do, but really it sounds like we will all win.” Her eyes were twinkling, thinking of all the ways she could seduce her husband.
“Hmm. Winner should be decided by how fast our husband backs out of boys' night” Ginny suggested, finishing the last of her drink.
“I like that” proclaimed Astoria. “I also think we should all get a vote on who wins. Of course you can’t vote for yourself.”
“So are we all agreed?” Pansy stood, raising her glass. “The lady who seduces her husband the best and gets him to back out of ‘Boy’s Night’ the quickest wins the 6,000 galleons.”
All the ladies stood, Astoria helping Daphne off the chaise and raised their glasses.
“May the best woman win,” Astoria declared.
“May the sexiest” cheered Ginny.
Daphne rolled her eyes, raising her mocktail “Guess that rules me out”
Hermione looked around at her friends, knowing that she could easily win. Draco had always been a simp for her and never really wanted to leave their home, especially their bed.
Luna caught Hermione’s eye and knew how to even the playing field. “No telling the husbands.”
Everyone turned their eyes to Hermione.
“Fine” she huffed, blowing a stray curl out of the way.
“It’s sexy time!” Astoria trilled as the ladies tossed their drinks back.