The Potter's Boxing Day Party
It was always a large party at the Potter's home. Everyone remotely close to the Potter family was invited, and seeing how they were apart of the Weasley family, it resembled a large fair more than it did a basic party.
There was a large green and white tent on the seaside. Minnie could hear the crowd and the music as they got closer. There was a stack of large boxes near the back of the tents. Minnie had a feeling that was the fireworks Josie's dad would set off later in the evening.
"Merlin's pants, I hope we aren't the only ones who are late." Her mother exclaimed as they neared the first tent.
Minnie felt slightly nauseous as she always did after Side-Apparating. Her stomach was also groaning. She had eaten barely anything the whole day so she could stuff her face at the party and not gain any weight. She also wanted to look positively slim in her dress.
Minnie fidgeted with the dress she was wearing. It was another creation of her Grandma Fyre's. It was a velvet dark blue dress that landed around her knees. The straps created a star upon her back making an absolutely stunning image. She was mostly mentally preoccupied by the terrifying prospect of the things Alice had told her the night before.
The knowledge that Lysander fancied Minnie scared her. She worried Lysander wouldn't want to be her friend anymore if she informed him she didn't return the feelings.
She wondered if what Alice had said about Josie was really true.
Yes, Minnie had seen them exclude Alice at dinner, but it could just be a misunderstanding. She had debated telling her dad, since he was in charge of the Quidditch team.
However, Minnie knew Josie would never speak to her again if she was suspended from Quidditch. Especially if it were just a misunderstanding, it didn't need to be that extreme of a measure.
"We wouldn't be late if you'd have just let me wear that shirt I picked out." Minnie's dad groaned as he adjusted the dark blue shirt beneath his dress robes.
"That shirt had a stain Nev." Her mum scolded before stopping him to fix his tie. "Not that I care normally, but I only see you in a nice non-stained shirt maybe a solid dozen, maybe thirteen times a year if you are kind to me on our anniversary, and honestly I wasn't willing to sacrifice another day."
"Duke! Where are you going?" Alice exclaimed as she chased after the little dragon who had, until momentarily, been seated upon her shoulder. She ran down the hill towards the first tent. Her light blue cloak floating behind her as she ran in the seaside air. "Come back Duke!"
Alice and Duke stopped by two older wizards who were smoking outside.
"Oh he's seen Charlie and Felix." Minnie's mum exclaimed with a bit of sorrow behind her eyes. She waved at them.
The two older wizards waved back. They were both dressed casually for the party, khaki colored pants and jackets instead of traditional robes.
The whole family said hello to the men. They were both respected dragon trainers who had worked with Duke's original companion many years ago.
Charlie was a Weasley who frequently exchanged letters with Minnie's parents. He was a stocky wizard with burn marks up and down his arms and legs. They greatly resembled the ones that covered her mother's back.
"I missed you too, buddy!" Felix, the shorter of the two exclaimed as Duke flew around his head. Felix held up a cigarette. "For old time's sake?"
Duke blew a little flame and lit the cigar before nudging his cheek.
"How are the dragons?" Alice asked jumping up and down. She'd always had a slight fascination with dragons. She'd read the book her mother had written about Kai Jones at least a dozen times.
"Quite cozy and calm at the moment, but ask me again come springtime." Charlie leaned down to Alice and patted her back. "Mating season of course."
"Of course." Alice nodded, "And I'll remember to be extra nice to Duke during that time."
"Yes, poor little buddy." Charlie's cheek squished as he watched Duke fly back to Alice's shoulder. "Rough being an abnormally sized dragon during mating season."
"Yeah, I suppose it would be like throwing a toothpick down a hal-" Alice's words were muffled as her mum grabbed Alice's mouth, making her mumble against her.
"Kids say the damndest things don't they?" Her mum said as her dad stifled a laugh.
"I wonder where she heard that." Minnie's dad asked in a very sarcastic tone.
"Oh, speaking of things all of us would rather not discuss, someone has been seen in the UK." Charlie said in a low tone.
Minnie's mum took her hand off of Alice's mouth, instead gripping her hands on both of her shoulders.
Her dad grabbed her hand as he exchanged a look with Minnie's mum. It wasn't a normal grab, it was desperate and his palms were sweaty.
Minnie's heart began beating. Who was in the UK? Was it the person who was causing her mother to avoid the Daily Prophet?
"And before you ask, she's nothing we can't handle." Felix insisted with his hands raised calmly. "You are perfectly safe, she wouldn't dare attack your or your family. Charlie just wanted you aware."
"Well I'm thankful to you both. We certainly don't need her on our plate too." Minnie's dad said, giving Minnie's hand a quick squeeze and releasing her hand.
Minnie decided it wasn't the same person, as the person her dad had mentioned in the greenhouses had been a man.
"Girls, let's get inside. I'm eager to see Ginny." Minnie's mum said still gripping her youngest daughter. Minnie could see the discomfort in Alice's face as her mum began to shake slightly.
Inside the warm tent it was a sea of mostly red hair as the Weasleys took up most of the guest list. There was a large dance floor and a table lined with intoxicatingly good smelling food.
The roof of the tent was clear to show the night sky. There were long tapestries waving with the sway of the crowd.
Her Godparents and their daughter, Lily greeted them almost immediately.
Lily was the second youngest member of the Weasley cousins. She had made it a point to take Alice under her wing as she was born during an odd time. Many of their parent's friends had their children much earlier with Minnie's friends being the youngest members of their respective families.
Lily quickly stole Alice away, insisting she needed to hear everything about her budding Quidditch career.
Lily had been a popular Quidditch player in school and she was training for a spot on Puddlemere United. She was beautiful, friendly and exceptionally talented. She was also rumored to be dating Harold Wood, Alice's current celebrity crush. She was everything Alice wished she could be and more.
Minnie's father left with Harry to catch up with Ron and their roommates from school over a batch of Chimera Cigars. They seemed to be on much better terms than they had been in the Greenhouses a few days ago.
"Sorry about Harry." Ginny told Minnie's mum as soon as the men were gone. She summoned two glasses filled with a very strong smelling drink. "I told him not to ask you anymore."
"He's just doing his job I suppose." Her mum insisted back throwing the drink back. Her shakes were still somewhat present, but she had leaned herself against Ginny in a more than friendly manor. "But I appreciate the effort Gin."
"Hey, what are best friends for? There's no way I'm letting you come near the Prophet with that curb crawler lurking around." Ginny asked with a chuckle and throwing her own drink back.
"Gin." Minnie's mother scolded with a flick of her head in Minnie's direction.
Ginny smirked at Minnie as she finished her drink. "You know Minnie, I think I saw Josie and the rest of your friends near the dance floor!"
Minnie loved the chaos, but unlike most years, she wasn't exactly interested in joining her friends immediately.
"Oh yeah, I want to grab some food first though." Minnie partially lied, planning to actually hide until she could figure out what to say.
She left her mother's side and wound her way through the party. She recognized James Potter and his fiancé Katie who was showing off her engagement ring to Roxanne, Josie's older sister and Ravenna.
She found the food table before piling a plate with every type of delicacy she could allow herself to stomach. Pies, cakes and turnovers were more than a welcome addition to her stomach. She ate and watched the people around her.
More of Cody's siblings were near the back of the tent. Ches was dancing with his girlfriend and Colin was in a group with Fred and Teddy Lupin.
Everyone she saw waved at her with a big smile on their faces. She tried not to look nervous as she waved back.
"Hey Min!" A familiar and very welcome voice called to her as she finished her plate. It was Al calling to her with Scorpius and Rose Weasley-Granger in tow. "Over here!"
Minnie sidetracked and ran over to Albus and his companions. She honestly could use a steady influence like Albus at the moment.
"So how are things Minnie?" Albus asked before sipping from the stein in his hand. "Is the year really as bad as you were worried it would be?"
"It's not so bad." Minnie lied. She began to fidget with the straps of her dress.
Rose exclaimed wrapping an arm around Minnie's shoulder. She was another flaming red head, but her texture resembled Minnie's with a curly kinks. "I heard you knocked a girl out for making fun of your parents."
"Woah! Really?" Scorpius asked excitedly. Minnie, now having met his father recognized a bit of his facial structure. She'd seen him a lot through the years, always attending parties with Albus.
"I didn't knock her out." Minnie said, but she could feel her ears go warm.
"Still, standing up for your family, very cool." Rose giggled as she took a drink of what smelled like a strong beer.
Minnie felt another pang at her heart. She knew she'd need to gather up that courage to talk to Josie.
"My dad said you were a tolerably pretty young lady, and for him that's a high compliment." Scorpius insisted with a wink. "Said you looked a good bit like your mum at your age. I agreed."
Minnie had to admit that was a very high compliment. Her mum was a beautiful woman. "He was very helpful with my mum."
"Yes." Scorpius' eyes darted across the room. He ran his hands up and down his arms. "He mentioned she was having a flare up."
Minnie spent a fair bit of time with Albus, Scorpius and Lily. Not exactly engaging in conversation, but enjoying their discussions about their careers and lives.
Minnie wondered if she'd ever really decide what she really wanted for her future. She'd had a small inclination lately, but she wasn't sure she would be good enough for it. She liked to imagine it though, and what interesting adventures it could lead her to.
Unfortunately, her friends found Minnie a bit later, bringing her back to earth and out of her imagination.
Cody, Josie and a very forlorn looking Lorcan followed. Lorcan's girlfriend was not at the party. Minnie found him a stranger without Nell's mouth wrapped around his own.
"There you are Minnie!" Cody exclaimed with a twirl. He was looking extra flamboyant today. He had a long flowing cloak with different shades of purples and greens paired with a dragon scaled suit.
"We've been looking everywhere for you." Josie said laying her chin upon Minnie's shoulder. She whispered, "Come on, I can't be the only person killing it on the dance floor and these nincompoops can't dance."
Cody's face dropped excruciatingly, "I can in fact dance."
"Says you." Josie rolled her eyes. Her wild red hair had been pulled up into a pile atop her head, showing off her incredibly muscular shoulders.
Lorcan joked with a roaring chuckle, "You do have to remember we learned all of our dance moves from Mum."
Lorcan tilted his head towards Aunt Luna.
Aunt Luna was engaged fully in a dance with Lysander. It didn't look like a normal dance, more like they were hitting Pixies in the air. Aunt Luna's beautiful holly covered hair floated like it was submerged in water as she bounced and clapped.
Minnie's heart dropped upon seeing Lysander, she hoped her conversation with Alice would never be brought up and they could all just laugh about it someday.
Lily and Alice both joined Aunt Luna and Lysander. The four were now holding hands and dancing a sort of reel. The three seemed almost as if stalled by time, moving at a beat slightly behind the rest of the world,
"Oh bollox, your sister is here isn't she?" Lorcan groaned before taking a drink of his pumpkin juice.
"Why wouldn't she be here?" Minnie asked. She crossed one arm over herself, feeling conflicted as she watched the joy on her sister's face as she twirled. Her giggles floated above the music, like a bubble ready to burst.
"I don't know, there was a part of me that wished she had caught Dragon Pox." Lorcan chuckled, "Then I won't have to do my obligatory pity dance with her."
Every year, Alice made the very bold move of asking Lorcan to dance with her. It, like all of her advances, had been cute the first time. Her little five year old voice had made the crowd coo over her.
Josie groaned along, "Do you think Nell would mind if I stole you for a dance or two Lorc?"
"As long as it keeps Alice from having a chance to ask me to dance then yes." Lorcan aggressively whispered before taking Josie by the arm and taking her onto the floor.
"Can't let them have all the fun can we?" Cody joked at Minnie, extending his hand for her.
Minnie felt her shoulders slump forward, but she conceded.
Cody was a fun dance partner, twirling her around quite actively. More so than Minnie could sometimes stand. She had never been light on her feet.
Minnie's eyes continued drifting around the room, best she could as they danced. Her mother and Ginny were sharing drinks and laughing together quite closely resembling two school girls. They were soon joined by Aunt Luna. Aunt Luna had her hand upon her chest, but a laugh etched along her lips.
Lily had also left the little circle. This left Lysander and Alice quite content to skip together in a wild elbow linked fervor.
"Louis Weasley is certainly looking fine today." Cody's eyes trailed over to Louis who had graduated a few years prior. He was a tall and very thin sort of Weasley.
One of the few to not have the trademark family hair. Louis and everyone of Bill and Fleur Weasley's children were platinum blondes who happened to look nicer than the supermodels who walked the Moda runway.
"You know you aren't his type right?" Minnie asked as Cody dipped her.
"Unfortunately." Cody's eyes turned downward. "You could always shoot your shot of course."
Minnie shook her head, "I wouldn't stand a chance."
"What are you talking about?" Cody asked before spinning her out, "You are brilliant and pretty easy on the eyes if you ask me."
"If you say so." Minnie knew he was being nice because he was her friend. She wanted to change the subject. She wondered if Cody could be the right person to ask. "Hey Cody, can I ask you something that you will promise to keep to yourself?"
Cody twirled her around, "Duh."
"Honestly, it's two somethings." Minnie continued as Cody took her hand. His motions now resembled the motion of a pendulum.
Minnie noticed her mum entering the dance floor with Cody's dad who had a very bright smile on his face.
"Sounds juicy." Cody's cheeks turned a scarlet shade, "Begin with the easier one."
"Alice said that Lysander fancies me." Minnie blurted. "I just want to be friends though."
"Oh that's old news Minnie." Cody threw his head back. "He's held a flame for you since last year. He wouldn't act on it though, he said so. He said your families are too close and it would be detrimental if you didn't return the feelings."
"Oh." Minnie felt a breath of relief escape her lungs, "That is good to know."
"Yeah, I don't think it is anything to worry about." Cody's eyes darted around, "Now tell me the difficult admission."
Minnie explained everything Alice had told her about Josie.
"I didn't know about any of that." Cody's rambunctious dancing had tapered. He was now dancing quite mildly with his feet. He gripped onto Minnie as his face drifted through a myriad of confusion.
"So Josie hasn't mentioned it?"
"Honestly, other than class, she's barely spoken to me since Quidditch started. Tonight was one of the first times she's spoken to me casually." Cody said, his eyebrows dropping. "And the only reason she sits with me in class is so that is so she can read my notes. Her grades have been dreadful. I didn't mind helping her out so she doesn't lose her status as Captain. Your dad already threatened to take it away if her grades didn't ascend soon."
"He did?" Minnie was the one who was surprised now.
"Yeah, she was really tore up about it. Her only career plan is to pursue Quidditch, so if she loses that, she has to figure out a whole new future and once again it goes back to her grades." Cody admitted, his eyes flashing towards her and Lorcan as they finished their dance. "I know she doesn't like Alice, but I didn't know about the rest of that."
"I was worried Lissy was fibbing."
"Come on, it's Alice. She's not really a liar." Cody forcefully chuckled, "She can't keep those lies in long enough. Last week she told Jeanie you both aren't part dragon. It was a right bit funny to watch Jeanie argue with her."
Minnie wanted to laugh, but she couldn't.
"Unfortunately Minnie, I think the only person you can actually ask is Josie." Cody said as he lead Minnie from the dance floor. He ducked them both out of the tent.
The sea air hit in a cold strike. Cody offered her his cloak which she more than gratefully took.
"Should I ask her tonight?" Minnie begged for direction.
"Probably, otherwise she will keep it up when we go back to school." Cody offered her a flask from her pocket, "Whiskey?"
"I'm not actually sure I'm ready for that." Minnie explained taking a deep breathe.
"My friend, if you are in any way about to confront Josie, I think you might." Cody pushed it towards her again.
"Fine." Minnie said before taking a quick sip. She hiccuped as she felt the burn. She had tasted Firewhiskey with her mum once, it tasted like cinnamon. This didn't taste like Firewhiskey. "That's not Firewhiskey!"
Cody took the flask back, "No, I swiped it from some bottle my dad was giving as a Christmas present. Nasty stuff, tastes like piss."
"I wonder who he hates so much." Minnie said feeling like vomiting.
"Not a damn clue. Dad's got a few enemies supposedly." Cody shrugged. "It makes a person feel pretty mellow though."
Minnie took a deep breathe trying to regain focus, "I can do this."
"You can do this." Cody encouraged before the tent opened and Josie strode out.
"Hey losers, are you two drinking without me?" Josie whispered with an impish expression.
Cody's eyes became saucers before handing the flask to her, "Yeah, Minnie was going to take it down the beach so the parents don't find it, if you want to go with her. I've had too much, I think I'll try my luck with Louis."
If Cody could have been old enough to Apparate, Minnie would have believed he'd done it. He was gone with in a flash.
"What's got his wand in a knot?"
"Too much Whiskey." Minnie partially lied.
The two girls began walking down the beach, with Minnie pretending to drink the foul tasting drink. It was impossibly cold and Minnie was ready to retreat back into the tent.
Josie seemed to be very warm with the wind whipping through her hair and taking drinks. They walked in silence as Minnie tried to find the right words.
"This stuff is disgusting." Josie broke the silence.
"I wanted to talk to you." Minnie blurted.
"Oh about what?" Josie chuckled at Minnie's whiplash.
"Lissy mentioned something to me." Minnie began casually as she tried to breathe along with the ocean. "That you make her run extra drills alone after practices."
"Oh yeah." Josie said casually between drinks, "That way she gets the practice she needs and the rest of the team can go to dinner without her following like a little lost puppy."
"And that you make her run drills alone during practice?"
"Yeah, she flies better that way if I leave her alone." Josie shrugged.
"So, you've alienated my sister?" Minnie couldn't believe what she'd just heard.
"No, I'm giving her the space to do her training" Josie rolled her eyes, "And it keeps her from pushing that yogi stuff on everyone."
Minnie firmly but quietly insisted. "Sounds like you are alienating her from the team."
"I mean when you put it that way." Josie rolled her eyes.
"I've seen it though Josie, by the time she's finished dinner is almost over and you aren't exactly inviting her to those parties in the Room of Requirement."
"How do you know about that?" Josie's smile dropped completely making the freckles on her face dance.
"So it's true?"
"It's not like I've told her that she can't come and sit with us." Josie chuckled, "What's wrong with a little peace and quiet when we celebrate? Besides, she's not the greatest at keeping secrets."
Minnie practically growled, "She doesn't deserve to be alienated by the whole team because you don't like her."
Josie's eyes tilted up at Minnie, "I just want what's best for the team."
"No, you don't." Minnie shook her head. "She's been winning your games if you haven't noticed."
Josie just crossed her arms as she spat the most derogatory words Minnie could have imagined, "I don't care about your stupid little sister."
Minnie gritted her teeth.
"And I don't care that you don't like it." Josie growled.
Minnie dared, taking a step closer to Josie, "I'm just asking you to be fair to my bloody sister."
Minnie knew she was saying honest things, but she began to feel like she was the worst human on the face of the planet.
"And what are you going to do about it if I don't?" Josie moved closer with a mocking chortle, "Punch me? Jinx me? I really doubt you have a lot up your sleeve Longbottom."
Minnie stood her ground, "I'll tell my dad."
Josie's shock played through the hesitancy in her voice.
"Real mature Min." She choked out.
Minnie crossed her arms.
"You wouldn't tell would you?"
"I would."
Josie's eyes softened and her arms uncrossed. Her words beat against the wind like a dove's wing, "But, if he knew, he'd take away my status as Captain."
Minnie nodded, "Probably. He'd do that for any student who was being excluded."
Josie said nothing else. As she strode past Minnie towards the tent, she pushed her shoulder against her's. Minnie did nothing, simply held her ground.
Minnie knew she shouldn't follow her.
She knew to mess with Josie anymore would be like tickling a sleeping dragon. As a person who had in fact once tickled a sleeping dragon, it wasn't a pleasant experience. Duke had bit her finger, he apologetically snuggled her wound, but it stung horribly.
Minnie instead hid herself atop the roof of her Godparents. It was cold, but Cody's cloak was very warm around her. She would have a better view of the fireworks from there. Even if she was alone, it would be a nice show.
The window to the roof squeaked open like an animal breathing its' last breath. Minnie worried whoever it was would be there to scold her. A crowd was beginning to grow on the beach, people were preparing for the fireworks.
"Minnie?"
It was Albus, wearing an expression as cold as the wind was around them. Scorpius and Cody both followed, wearing relieved, but confused expressions.
"Lissy!" Albus called back through the window. "I found her!"
Albus helped Alice up through the window. Alice slowly sat down beside her sister.
"Cody told me what you told Josie. Josie told him, but he's rather cheesed off at her for everything. She said she wasn't going to tell anyone because it would ruin her reputation. I don't want that, she's a very good captain after all." Alice said with a tremble to her voice. "I wouldn't have told you if I knew you'd tell her off."
Minnie wrapped her arms around her legs, pulling Cody's cloak around her tighter.
Alice said leaning her head on Minnie's shoulder, "You didn't have to do that."
"Yes I did."
"But she's your friend."
"And you are my sister." Minnie reminded taking Alice's hand. "That's more important don't you think?"
The first firework entered the air. The explosion was like a large red bolt of lightning.
Cody joined them, sitting down. He handed her, her cloak. She removed his cloak and handed it to him.
Albus and Scorpius stayed with them as the fireworks continued.
Minnie wasn't sure if she'd possibly lost her friend, but she no longer felt conflicted for her sister. She knew she'd done the right thing, especially as Alice's face lit up at every firework that erupted into the air.