23 June '76: Shake Until The Bitter End: Open House

[Amelia Bones]

Head bobbing and booty shaking, Amelia laughed as they were joined by the rest of the group. She loved her brother’s friends, not only because it was such an odd assortment – who’s have thought an old married couple could dance like that without breaking a hip?! And the murderous little Gracie practically owned the lounge-turned-dance floor. She was having difficulty dancing while her cup was so full, so Amelia solved the issue by chugging a large gulp just as Grace asked her a question? “Huh?” she asked, almost automatically, but then her brain caught up and before Gracie could even open her mouth to repeat the question Amelia said, “oh yeah.” Amelia raised her pointer finger to show a few random lines and dots tattooed lightly. “It makes more sense once you see Nettie’s,” she explained. “We’re going to check out a few flats next weekend, hopefully. We figured there’d be less push to get her into Lestrange’s place if she already had a place of her own, and I wasn’t about to let Rod be the only one in the family to throw a proper rager like this. Couldn’t very well do it at my folks’ home. Dad said it was alright, but mum nixed the idea,” she added with a laugh.

Amy could dance to just about anything, so when her brother interrupted their fun with a change of music, she knew it wasn’t the end of the world. Though some decorum would have been appropriate instead of record-scratching a new album mid-way through the chorus. She would have complained, if only to pester her brother as any respectable little sister would, but he’d put on an ABBA record, a muggle band with a new album that Amelia had listened to on repeat while packing up her dormitory a few weeks ago. Much to the chagrin of anyone with ears, Amelia was unashamed to sing along with any song she enjoyed, despite having no real talent for carrying a tune, and her rendition of S.O.S. was well-known by the time their trunks were carted down to the train station. But as her brother had not been present for such an amazing performance, she felt it only fitting to provide an encore now.

Taking up a spring roll that Andromeda was offering (so that's the brilliance of having old married people at the parties, they bring snacks to dance with. Genius!) Amelia held it like it was a microphone and began singing and dancing very much at her brother.

                    “Look at me now, will I ever learn

                                    I don't know how, but I suddenly lose control

                                                  There's a fire within my soul”

[Bilius Weasley]

This was the best sort of night, the kind where laughter and music echoed from every corner of their flat, and the worries of the world and the burdens they carried were trapped on other side of the apartment door. To flirt and drink and rib each other, to have a lark trying to turn the bad days into good stories, to pretend that they could forget the troubles that haunted their each and every shift - and what the continued, escalating troubles meant for their community and beyond. Even if it meant being the butt of the joke here and there, it was well worth it to Bill for the brief relief - and he was grateful that Rod was there to bear witness to the absolute horror of a plan contained within their sweet little Gracie P's noggin. Did those who'd only met her at Mungo's get to know this side of her? He had to hope so, just imagining a startled patient or supervisor got him grinning.

Bill gave his mate a few claps on the back as he choked, sending a salute to the girls as they went to dance in the next room with Andy and Ted. "She's got her sources, that one," he affirmed, their girl's ability to produce even the rarest beetle or spider from the apparent air, well, it was a good party trick, but as she hadn't yet brought it up... "You two came together, yeah? Did she mention bringing any?" Bill asked the delightfully laughing Annette. "Might just foil our plan if she did, there's not supposed to be any bugs in the cake..."

Good man that he was, Roderick took his thinly veiled hint - and, evidently not interested in the witch in the way he was growing to be - took his leave with a knowing smirk or two. His friend's okay, the pretty girl shifting over beside him, and the drink all left him lighter than he'd been just a few short minutes ago, and Bill was all grins as he heard the abrupt change of music - and the accompanying choir joining in with gusto. 

"That banner has seen the best days," Bill proclaimed to her tease, leaning against the counter at her side. While it'd been up for just a year, it had already seen them through what felt like a lifetime. "We made it for the first one of these we held when we moved in last summer, but it's maybe been charmed over one too many times? Did catch fire - just the once. I think. Trick candles well lived up to the hype." He raised his brows in play, drinking as he tried to figure out how to explain the work that had woven them all together. The way he'd trust any of them with his life, and to kick him in the shins when he needed it, and to have endless creative solutions for even the farthest flung scenario... 

"Mungo's is a beast, don't let anybody tell you different," Bill began with a wicked grin, "it's ours, though. Have to be a wee bit mad to keep at it - but you already know that lot," he said with a laugh and a wave to the clamor, "so no surprises there. Pack animals, though, you've got that right for us. In training, they talked and talked about how we had to work together. Not just to get things done, but to get through. I didn't believe them," Bill admitted, glass spinning in his hands, "but turns out they were onto something. Andy's saved my hide out there, and I've done for her. I know we'll do it again, and again, sure as breathing. I may be thick, but even I'm learning there's no doing it alone. None of them would let me, besides." That loyal, persistent crew would never. "I've convinced you to join us, haven't I? I don't have a go-to on the first floor yet, come to think of it - creatures, what d'you think?" Only half teasing, the bloke quirked a grin and topped off their drinks.

[Ted Tonks]

His wife cautioned him to not let her get too drunk, but he also wanted to make sure she took proper advantage of their child-free opportunity. He loved Dora and would both kill and die for her, but Merlin’s pants it was nice to get to just be an independent adult with no immediate responsibilities. He knew Dromeda felt the same way, but he also did not fancy cleaning her sick off the floor. “Right. The Goldilocks of tequila shots,” he confirmed with a muggle children’s reference he wouldn’t immediately realize she might not recognize.

His absolutely brilliant dance moves were halted as the music suddenly changed, but when Dromeda pulled him closer and planted a kiss on him, he forgot to be annoyed that his groove had been thrown off. One disco song was traded out for another, and as none of it was really to Ted’s taste, it made no difference to him. But the brunette beauty in front of him began singing and Ted at least knew some of the words from the chorus to be able to sing along too.

        “Mama Mia.

                Here I go again.

                        My, my, something, something, something…”