THE SKY WAS STARTING TO change colour and the streets were starting to fill with more and more students from the three schools. Because of the dress code, everyone was blending in; if it weren't for the fact that you could recognise your classmates and housemates, you wouldn't know that there were two other schools in there. Everyone was one and the same. Was that what the twins were going for?
Most were holding the famous golden ticket to the party. Wendy remembers a few days before that, the twins asked her how Muggles gave out their invitation without owls. Because she couldn't explain how emails worked, she went for the next best thing. The following days, students all over the castle received a special chocolate bar with a golden ticket inside, the kind that would invite you to a chocolate factory run by a wonker of a man and tiny identical men.
She found it quite interesting assisting people to open their bars of chocolate and little confetti coming out of it. Of course, the twins had to spice it up and the few muggle-borns who understood the reference were so delighted. Even when Draco Malfoy found his chocolate bar in the middle of his potions book was able to crack a smile.
"Are you ready?" Cedric asked her, holding out the shiny golden ticket.
"Of course!" She answered.
Together, side by side, they walked towards the pub. Some angry students were waiting outside, not able to come in as a line, drew probably by Hermione, limited their passage. The two were able to pass without worries. The Three Broomsticks has never been so vividly lit before, the colourful fires around the pub gave Wendy the feeling of an 80s disco. The music coming from the enchanted instruments by the bar filled the air, but the talking of people drowned the music. All the tables were gone, and instead, a crowd of people divided into tiny groups, too scared to socialize with others.
Wendy and Cedric tried to find a circle to join and that's when they saw Ginny waved for them. The couple waltzed their way to Ginny who was in the good company of Neville.
"Hello guys, how was your date?" Ginny asked with a knowing tone.
Cedric stood there in silence waiting for Wendy to answer, he wanted to know what she thought of it. Wendy was too shy to answer, but she found some courage within herself to find some words to spit out. In the end, she decided to settle the curiosity of her friend with just enough to keep her calm for the actual talk that would for sure take place later that night in the dormitory, "it was truly lovely."
Ginny nodded taking in the short answer, Neville was about to ask more but Michael butted in, "Wendy! Where were you?! We found Ginny but you weren't with her!"
Wendy looked at the brother, he was wearing similar clothes to what he used to wear when they still were in London, memories gracing her mind. But the worried look of his brother was enough to ruin it. She glanced at Cedric beside her and Michael followed her eyes, it didn't take him long to lean back and nod his head knowingly.
"Oh, I see," he said, "could have at least told me and speared me the worry."
"You would have told other people and we can't have that, right now," said Ginny and she quickly followed with an apology.
Michael looked over at Neville who, for the whole time, preferred to stay quiet and not wanting to get involved. Unfortunately for him, Michael had to ask, "did you know?"
The boy struggled to find the words. He didn't even know why Ginny and Hermione told him about any of this, he wasn't interested at all. Worse than being under the spell of petrificus totalus in the first year by his classmate.
"Uh... Y-yes?"
Michael took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The four looked at each other, scared he might start making a scene, but when he opened his eyes he looked calm and at peace. He nodded and ordered a drink from the bar. It was typical for Michael to say what he thought about the people Wendy dated; but with time, that habit of his calmed down. But the idea of her being a teenager again, brought back his old protective side.
The group became bigger as Harry, Ron, and Hermione joined in. Some people would pass by to greet them, and most were just there to shoot angry looks at Harry and Michael. The whole ordeal of the two being cheats was just unbelievable. Wendy found that being one of the most annoying things in the story, probably the top 5 with Umbridge and Sirius in Azkaban just to die after he was free.
"Where are Fred and George anyways?" Asked Ron.
Everyone started looking around, but no one could find the two. That was when confetti popped all around them out of thin air. Lights dimmed just to light up again to present none other than the twins themselves on top of the bar. They wore silly red and yellow striped shirts that didn't need the spotlight nor the confetti to grab attention.
"Welcome everyone," George said flamboyantly.
"to!" Fred said striking a pose, "the very first..."
"muggle-themed party!" They said together, followed by an uproar of cheers from everyone in sight.
"Brought to you by the Weasley twins," Fred said in a whisper, but Wendy was sure to have heard it. He continued with a louder voice, "Tonight we will have a magic-less night, all things muggle."
George followed him, "no butterbeer, but iced-tea."
"No, fire-whiskey but whiskey," Fred said with a wink.
"and the greatest invention of Muggles," George said.
"PIZZA!"
Everyone cheered, not even sure of what the two were talking about. But the enthusiasm they shot around was so contagious you couldn't just not join in with the fun. Maybe that was the twins' superpower, to bring smiles and fun—Wendy thought.
"Please have fun and," George spoke.
"Dance until you can't walk!" Fred screamed.
The music started going and the sound of 'Basket Case' by none other than the Green Day came out and Wendy and Michael's eyes lit up in both happiness and terror. How in the world can this be happening when that song wasn't supposed to exist yet? Although the paradox was killing Wendy's brain, she was quite happy to see her friends and classmates be enjoying the music.
She searched for Fred and George with her eyes and when she found them she waved in their direction. The two walked up to their group of friends and couldn't help but notice the presence of Cedric Diggory, but decided not to mention it.
"Are you guys enjoying the party?" The two asked.
Wendy and Michael came up to them and, just as if they were twins themselves, they asked in unison, "how the hell do you have this song?"
The two grinned, of course, they weren't going to tell their secrets, but they were in a really good mood, "let's just say that we might or might have not checked your stuff," Fred said checking his nails, nonchalantly.
Wendy still couldn't understand as all her stuff from before were all tucked and hidden in her room, but she remembered how messy and careless her brother was. She gave him a look and he couldn't help but shrug his shoulders.
"At least, we will have great music tonight!" He said.
"Be more careful with your stuff!" She scolded him and turned back to the twins, "and you, that playlist cannot leave this pub, understood?"
The twins smiled and nodded angelically as they would ever do anything that uncharacteristically mischievous! Wendy sighed and dropped her hopes until a hand rested on her shoulder and comforted her.
"Let's dance?" Cedric asked her trying to get her off of her problems.
Wendy has not been in a disco in years, let alone dance in such a public place to Green Day music. But she was a teenager again, how many times can you pass through those years? —well, for her twice,— but how many times can she have a third chance at her teenage years? She won't be wasting it by worrying about how she looked like dancing, that was for sure.
She nodded and took his hand, as he led her to the middle of the pub where most of the students were already dancing. They danced at the sound of 00s music, all from Michael's personal playlist.
Into their third song, they realised how they didn't let go of each other's hand, but preferred not to pointing it out—scared the other would let go of it if it were to be mentioned.
Ginny and Neville joined in too, followed by Hermione and Krum, who was dancing so stiffly. Wendy also noticed Harry shyly talking to Cho Chang, wondering if that would affect anything in the story. Cho Chang was supposed to be hanging out with Cedric. But with her around, Cho was free to date Harry... Was she wrong?
Cedric noticed her attention was focused on Harry and Cho, and couldn't stop himself from asking, "do you like Harry?"
Wendy was snapped out of her thoughts, surprised by the sudden question, "Wh—no! Harry is my best friend— he's like a brother at this point—no... I couldn't!"
The boy chuckled and apologized for his silly question, "I guess... I was insecure for a second."
She didn't expect Cedric to be so forward with his feelings. But she loved how he was comfortable enough to tell her about them.
"Would you like something to drink?" Wendy asked feeling a bit tired from dancing.
"Sure, I'll get us some," He said walking away.
Wendy made her way towards the few tables in the pub and sat with Fred and George who were just happily watching people dance.
"For hosts, you don't seem to be partying enough," she said.
The two looked at each other before chuckling a bit, Fred answered for them, "we were too busy planning everything we forgot to find dates."
Wendy observed the two. There was something in their face, so rare for them; may it be regret? She shook her thoughts way, the twins wouldn't be so down for not having dates, they always had each other.
"That doesn't mean you can't have fun and dance!" She exclaimed, "weren't you two who said that just earlier?"
The two looked at each other again and nodded before looking back at her, "dance with us?"
Wendy had to admit, she was tired from dancing and the long walk she had this whole afternoon. But the smiles on their face gave her enough energy to stand up again and offer both her hand to the two.
"I'd be glad to."
The two grabbed her hand and gave her a little curtsy in fun. Cedric was back with two drinks and found her with the twins. It took him one look to understand and smile at her. Wendy took that as a go signal for momentarily leaving his date to dance with her friends, and dragged them to the dance.
ABBA was singing their famous 'Dancing Queen' and Fred and George couldn't help but bring out the queen that has been laying inside them this whole time. Dancing around and being silly brought Wendy so much joy. The twins knew the lyrics to the song by heart and sang the song together with Wendy. Soon after, they caught everyone's attention dancing the simple choreography. Students followed their lead and in a flash, everyone joined in the dance.
Cedric observed the scene. The twins didn't have anyone to dance with that night, and Wendy was able to include them by making everyone dance with them. She was probably not even aware of the power she had on people. The joy she can bring with just her presence; maybe that was her superpower.
"So you're dating now?"
Cedric turned around, none other than Draco Malfoy was sitting with him.
"I'm not quite sure where we are," he had to admit looking back at Wendy, who was playfully dancing with the twins and all her friends. Her smile so innocent and her laugh so pure, nothing has made him feel as soft as he felt with her around.
Draco stayed quiet studying the Hufflepuff boy, the champion, the perfect guy. Something in him reeked of sunshine, something he was sure he couldn't do. He then looked at Wendy too, the girl so unaware of the multiple eyes upon her. How dense she could be was truly a mystery for him.
The girl then looked back at the table, finding not only Cedric but also Draco; what a weird sight to see. With a smile and sweat on her face, she ran back to them.
"Hello boys," she looked at both then fixed her eyes on Draco, "I'm glad you finally made it."
"Had to fix my hair," he said with a grin.
"Of course," she laughed, "aren't you going to dance?"
"No one worth dancing with," he said looking at the crowd of people.
Wendy looked back at Cedric who, once again, knew exactly what she was thinking. With a smile, he gave her a small nod and she happily offered Draco a hand. The boy, confused, gave her a look.
"What?" She asked, "come on! Even I'm not worth dancing with?"
He stuttered a bit, he had no intention of offending her, but after he saw her grin he felt more at ease and took her hand. He can't believe she was the one who asked him to dance. He should have been the one to ask her, but once they reached the made-up dance floor, where everyone was enjoying their time, it didn't matter anymore. It was just him, a teenage boy, dancing to unknown music with other teenagers.
"Isn't this fun?!" Wendy screamed over the music.
Draco had to admit to himself, he wouldn't have enjoyed it quite as much, if he were there alone. He wouldn't even have been there if it weren't for Wendy. He left his friends wondering where he was going because he was too prideful to admit that he was going to dance with a bunch of kids who were probably going to be mostly Gryffindors. Fortunately, he was wrong. He noticed some Slytherins dancing and chatting with Hufflepuffs, some others drinking what could have been alcohol with Ravenclaws and Gryffindors, with some kids from the outside schools. But that night there wasn't any label, no houses, no schools, no bloods. Just a bunch of horny and confused teenagers dancing until their legs fall.
Draco was brought up by a life of status and seeing people from different backgrounds get along so nicely was a first for him and that was all thanks to the girl he was dancing with. Wendy smiled at him as she grabbed his hands to put up, Draco was quite confused by the way of dancing, it was very upbeat and not a single planned step like he was taught by his parents.
"What is this song?" He asked intrigued by the lyrics that felt so close to him.
"Wonderwall by the Oasis!" She said twirling him around for fun.
Wendy enjoyed this Draco very much. With his oversized striped shirt and jeans held by a buck belt he seemed to be so carefree. Stiff and awkward still, but much free-er than he seemed with his collars and suits. She wasn't sure what the future had in serve for this Draco, but she was sure that he had the power to change.
Notes;
i think these chapters are getting longer and longer, im sooo sorry I REALLY AM TRYING TO NOT MAKE THEM TOO LONG ISTG