Sibling Revelry - Monday, 22nds of December, 1975

[Amelia Bones]

She'd been home for three days already, and although she loved her mum and dad dearly, Amelia was more than excited to accept her brother's offer to meet up at the Leaky tonight. Edgar had to wait until little Grayson had fallen asleep, which she assumed would be early and an easy process, so she got to the pub around 7:30, ordered a beer, and settled in at the bar. Her final year at school was nearly half over but she wasn't looking forward to the rest of term in the slightest. There'd been no announcement to the family as she hadn't properly made up her mind yet, but in chatting with King, Amy had nearly decided on her path for the future. She was considering the Auror program, which would likely give Ed a heart attack, not to mention her mum, but she would need at least five Es in her N.E.W.T.S. this year, and despite being an angelic student her entire Hogwarts career, this was causing her some stress. Perhaps that was why she had sucked down her beer so quickly and needed to order a second, or perhaps it was that babies take longer to put to bed than grown humans. Whatever the reason, seconds, then thirds were ordered and Amy found herself in a riveting conversation with an attractive witch at the bar. 

"That's rather naughty," she laughed, touching the witch's arm as her body leaned forward. Several beers in, Amelia had nearly forgotten about the plans she'd arranged with her brother and was about ready to offer to escort the pretty witch back to her place, except for the fact that she didn't have a place of own, still being in school and all, but she was legal adult and had some spending money her dad had given her for the holiday, so perhaps they could just book a room upstairs and make a night of it. The witch asked after Amy's interests, clearly unaware that she already had the green light, and Amelia gave a somewhat cheeky reply quietly into the woman's ear. It was at that precise moment Amy locked eyes with her eldest brother Edgar who, until that moment, she'd forgotten was the reason for her coming out tonight.

Tagged: @some random bar witch & Edgar Bones
Outfit: tis the season

[Edgar Bones]

This time last year he'd been holding back Phoebe's hair, struggling to hold in his own dinner, and they learned that the old saying was true - we make plans, and somebody out there starts laughing. Now their first wedding anniversary was upon them in a matter of days, their unexpected bundle of joy was just shy of six months, Pheebs had her degree and was killing it as a paralegal, he'd advanced in the Order, they'd moved into a proper home in the outskirts of the city and were hosting their first Christmas in the new house this week...Life had been mad, but life was good, and some days Ed could hardly believe that this life was his. Every day he got to wake up, roll over, and snuggle with his wife until their alarms - or the cries of the baby - won out. Every night he got to spend with their little family there were always surprises, little things to notice and marvel at. Gray's bubbling laughter was the greatest sound he'd ever heard, and Phoebe? His heart had been hers for so long, but it belonged to both her and Gray now, and going through this last year with her...It hadn't been without its struggles, especially this summer when changes were happening one on top of the other, but he wouldn't want to be on this journey with anyone else. She was a remarkable woman, an incredible mother, and making the world safe for her and their child was truly the driving force of his life.

The war had never not been personal, but after Gray was born, after he finally had him in his arms, that tiny hand grasping his finger for dear life...giving Gray the life he deserved was no longer some theoretical need. Something had clicked into place, firmly, and while in a way the mornings and nights he was away on missions made those he spent at home all the more powerful - they had become all the more necessary. Any progress made by himself, his team, his brethren, meant they were one day closer to ending this. One day closer to finding animals in the clouds instead of worrying about a shadowy skull creeping into view. One day closer to never being away from them, except for something like this. 

He was glad his sister had been up for meeting as just the two of them, ahead of the big family Christmas affair. You never knew where those nights would go, and Ed wanted to make sure they had some real time together. She only had next term before her Hogwarts years were through, which made him feel like an old man more than anything else did, and whatever she decided to do next, he had no doubt that she would tackle it with the verve and tenacity she did everything else. He was late to meet her, unfortunately, but trusted that Amelia had found some way to amuse herself in his absence. Gray was his own man and did things on his own time table, after all. But once he'd agreed to settle and nodded off, Ed had revived himself, quickly throwing on a clean sweater before leaving Pheebs with a kiss and promise to not be out the night. Entering the Leaky now, Ed was highly entertained in looking about and spying his sister flirting with abandon at the bar. Chuckling to himself, he made his way through the evening's crowd at ease, getting a brew from Tom while Amelia was distracted. By her animation, he figured she'd been having quite the fun night already, and regretted his choice of beverage. Should've gotten a few shots to catch up, look at her go. He was only apart from the witches by a few patrons, and leaned over the bar and away from it, seeing just how long it would take for his sister to notice...

His face split into a wide grin as their eyes locked, and Ed wasted no more time in interrupting. There were far too few opportunities to embarrass her these days, after all, and Ed spoke as he neared them. "If you really want to get to know my sister, you can ask me anything. Did you know, back in the day she almost ran the Sorting Hat out of Hogwarts? Never seen a kid more eager to argue with an all-knowing magical object, but that's our Milly."

[Amelia Bones]

Amelia's cool, collected face dropped the second her brother opened his mouth. "Shut it," she hissed at him, struggling to meld her annoyance and amusement into a single expression. "Don't listen to him. He's a nutter," she insisted to the pretty witch, but her case was not helped by the departure of the couple sitting between them and her brother, now leaving only empty spaces and a clear view of his annoying mug. Edgar might have been the sort to fall in love with a girl at 15 and spend the rest of his life with her, but Amelia very much was not. She wasn't necessarily opposed to the idea of a relationship, but there was no need for any 'getting to know you' questions in either direction with this witch. 

Tagged: @some random bar witch & Edgar Bones
Outfit: tis the season

[Edgar Bones]

Edgar struggled to keep from laughing as his sister's face fell. He couldn't believe that she was that put off by seeing him, she'd seemed happy at the idea over their owls, but having one's older brother interrupt a flirtatious endeavor had to be nearly as bad as having one's younger siblings do the same. He hadn't had as many opportunities to return the favor - of course, everything had worked out with him and Pheebs despite challenges far more monumental than a lack of privacy over their Barking summers - and simply smiled at Amelia's warm, heartfelt welcome. And moved through the sudden vacancies that likely had nothing to do with their reunion, content in settling in beside them with his brew.

Why wouldn't she want to tell that story to the pretty witch in her company? It'd been a grand day, simply the best, the first that all three of them were at Hogwarts together. How proud he'd been to see her climb the steps at long last, to hold her own until she was satisfied with the debate, even if it meant she wasn't joining him in Gryffindor. Totally a reasonable something to share with someone she'd met...that night? 

You're an utter sh*t wingman.

    It's my sister.

Ed shrugged, giving a cheeky grin. "Nutter? Some might argue that.

You're not getting rid of me that easily," Ed warned playfully. "I put on a clean shirt for this and everything! I got to be home with my son today, he's just wee, I've got a photo here somewhere..." he prattled on for the benefit of her companion and Amelia - Gray had changed so much in these last few months! and what if this woman was easily scared off, wouldn't want that! He dug his wallet out - the muggle kind that folded, perfect for snapshots, Arthur had been stuck with unloading a pile of uncursed ones - to show off the kiddo and their pup who, thankfully, was generally a fan of the new addition.

[Amelia Bones]

Seeing as how this night had originally been set aside for a chin wag with her brother who, despite his tardiness, had finally arrived, Amelia decided to cut her losses. There was no getting anywhere with this witch with her brother watching over them, and despite Ed wanting to play 20 questions in order for the ladies to get to know each other better, she'd rather they not. No offense to her darling older brother, but she did not need a wingman and if she did Edgar would be the last person in the world she'd ask to take on such a role. Honestly, bringing in first year Hogwarts stories.... No one wants to picture their one night stand as a prepubescent school girl, and if they did then Amelia certainly wasn't fooling around with those sorts.

The nameless witch was being polite by looking at the picture of little Grayson that Edgar had produced but Amy cut their interaction short. "Sorry, this night's meant for my obnoxious brother," she clarified, plucking the picture from the woman's hand and standing. "Maybe I'll see you 'round." Nope, not after this encounter, unless she was really drunk and forgot. Stranger things had happened. Amelia grabbed her drink and gestured for Ed to follow her to an empty booth where they could chat without embarrassing her.

Swerving through the short maze of tables, Amy looked at the picture Edgar had been showing off. Grayson was getting big, and far less wrinkly than he'd been when she'd last seen him. Amy was excited to spend the entirety of Christmas day with the little lad. "You lots are so lucky he's taken after Pheobe in the looks department. For a while there I thought Gray was going to end up looking like you..." She slid into the booth bench and set her glass on the table, still looking at the little baby. "How's Sadie taken to being a big sister?"

Tagged: @some random bar witch & Edgar Bones
Outfit: tis the season

[Edgar Bones]

Ed smiled wide to the witch - in as much apology as he could muster, seeing as this was an evening set aside for the sibling pair and said sibling had just termed him "obnoxious," making him want to burst out laughing as he mentally added that title to the others she'd gifted him over a lifetime - as his sister took up the photo and made her departure. A flicker of guilt flashed quickly through him - he'd find a way to make up for his interruption sometime over the holiday, eh? - and Ed turned on his heel to follow her away, pint in hand, scanning the familiar space for familiar faces as she found them a spot to sit. His years of hanging out at the Leaky after a long day of Auror training were behind him, but the usuals were slow to change here, a time-capsule of their own making, and it made his smile settle in. There had been a certain comfort in overhearing snippets of the same arguments by the same voices as he and Fabs and Gid and their class collapsed into seats, shoulder-to-sweaty-and-broadening-shoulder. Being here with Milly, now so grown up herself, was a tad disconcerting. But he was excited for the changes to come - with her leaving school soon, they'd be able to partake in each other's lives far more than during this last while since his own graduation. Catching up over the summers and holidays just wasn't enough, and wherever she ended up, surely she wouldn't be more than a few Apparition points away.

"Oh yes, quite lucky indeed. Would've been just terrible to pass all of this on, too much responsibility for such a little lad." Ed gestured around his face and slid into the booth opposite her, laughing. "I hope he'll keep my hair, but they're all getting Phoebe's eyes, I know it." The looming mystery to him was height, but they'd have to wait and see if Gray and the others - for there would be others, just not yet...not that they were trying, but they weren't not trying - would take after him or the rest of their family there. He drank and settled back into the seat, chest warming as he noted that Amelia was still focused on the picture. Aunt Amelia, a title he knew she wore proudly, but one that hadn't gotten much use yet. Being away from Phoebe and Grayson for days at a time, there were always changes in them that he came back to - and he looked forward to seeing Milly with them soon, after these last few months apart. Gray was stretching out, full of laughs and babbles and movement, and he hoped there was enough time over the holiday for the baby to settle in with his sister again.

"She's been a trooper, really wants to help with everything," Ed grinned. Their pup had followed Phoebe around at the heels through the pregnancy, alert and affectionate, and now that the baby was here? "Sleeps right in front of the nursery door. Hates being apart from Gray or Pheebs, can't blame her there. But she's adjusting well, we're trying to get back into a good walking schedule for her too, but at least we've got the yard now for her to run around in. They'll love having you at the house, all of them...And if you need to sneak away, you're always welcome. How've Mum and Dad been so far? Completely grilling you yet?" He could all too well remember his seventh year winter holiday, where he'd broken the news to the family about his plans to join the Auror program. Perhaps he could have done it differently, as his parents hadn't taken too kindly to him making the announcement to their family in its entirety - but did it matter that Rod and Milly were young? He hadn't wanted any more secrets than he had to have, seeing as he'd been keeping a rather large one from Phoebe back then, and Ed still held that it was the right call. His sister's plans for the future were a mystery to him yet, and he wondered if the plans were a mystery to her still as well. A witch as talented as she was had to have various departments after her already, and while others might say there was - there was no time crunch when it came to weighing her options.

[Amelia Bones]

“All of them, eh?” she questioned teasingly. Of course, Edgar would be planning a whole brood of babies. That was fine enough by her, the more grandchildren Edgar and Phoebe gave their parents, the less pressure they might apply on herself. Amy wasn’t opposed to the idea of kids, but she certainly wasn’t having them anytime soon, and every new nephew or niece meant a few more years she could put it off without drawing attention. “At least Sadie’s got your hair, if no one else. You were going for a shaggy dog look, I assume?” She grinned up at him, gesturing to the mop of golden hair on his head before taking one last glimpse at the little babe in the photo and passing the picture back to its owner. “I’ll be sure to give her extra love when I visit. Can’t be letting on that you’ve chosen favorites,” she remarked with a shake of her head. Amelia could practically picture Sadie trotting around the house after whomever was carrying baby Grayson. She was a good pup.

Brushing dark hair behind her ears as she took another swallow from her glass, Amelia nodded. “They’re both relentless, asking for my plans after graduation as if there wasn’t any time left to change my mind. I’ve nearly told mum about a dozen times just to quiet her up, but I don’t want to guess at her reaction when I tell her what I’m thinking. Or worse, if my marks aren’t high enough and I have to figure out a backup plan. It’s a chore being the favorite, such a weight I carry on my shoulders.” Her left hand massaged her neck in a dramatic fashion. “You’re welcome.”

Tagged: Edgar Bones
Outfit: tis the season

[Edgar Bones]

"Hell yes, all of them," Ed returned without missing a beat. He counted himself lucky to grow up with Rod and Amelia, however horrible sharing a bathroom had been - before Sleekeazy's came into his life, his patented effortless look took more effort than he wanted anyone to know, and unfortunately his two little minions knew his routine all too well. But for all of the mutual childhood aggravation, Ed trusted few people more than them. He just knew, without question, that the three of them would come through for each other at the end of the day. He wanted Gray to experience that comfort, that unique bond of growing up together. There were other ways to feel that, sure - Phoebe was his family, and he saw Liz and Kyra as his own sisters, and through school the Prewett twins adopted him as another brother, and blood wasn't everything. But if Gray didn't have a little sister calling him out on his hair, well, they couldn't let the little guy miss out on that kind of family magic.

"Oi," he laughed, running his fingers through his hair with full theatrics, "this look has taken me far, alright? With no complaints...except you, Mum, and Dad." In fairness, Ed could use a trim. But as long as Pheebs liked it and it didn't get in the way at work, he'd hold onto his youth the shaggy dog look. Life was practically unrecognizable from how it had been just a year ago, and sometimes when he caught a glimpse of himself in passing - he knew the hair, he always knew the hair. But other changes, they were happening minutely. Evidence from being in the field came and went, but he feared his worry lines would become permanent features. And after returning home, before he acclimated, he'd learned to avoid his own eye in the mirror, not liking the changed look in it. Knowing he had met the eye of someone who'd taken a life, or had failed in his mission, or had put himself at risk, despite having this family to return to...It took time to shelve those things and feel like himself again, but he still looked like himself, and it helped.

"She'll love the attention - thanks, kiddo," he teased, and slipped the photo back into his wallet at its return, chuckling. He drank with Amelia as she contemplated how much to tell him, and Ed's grin quirked as she spoke. So there's some kind of plan firming up, then... But at her end, he had to grimace in jest. "Is that what they've been telling you? Hate to break it to you, but I did give them a grandchild, so they're pretty over the moon with me these days." Besides the whole war involvement, but that's neither here nor there. "You're right, though - you've got time to think, and time to apply. But you can run it by me, if you want." He gave her a raise of his brows, only a slight challenge in his tone. He was curious, no doubt about it, but more than that - having thought partners was helpful, and if she hadn't discussed her ideas with many others yet, he could provide what insight and support that he could. Should've waited til later in the night, done a game for the info...

[Amelia Bones]

Kiddo. Amelia put on a theatrical scowl at the diminutive label and took a sip of her drink as he tucked the photograph of Grayson and Sadie back into his billfold. The Bones were extremely close, despite their gap in age, and although the nickname was used in jest, Ed would have to be quite thick to not expect some sort of retaliation after calling her "kiddo" so dismissively. If Amelia had to narrow down the list of things she despised, and it was a rather long list at times, being treated like the baby of the family was high on said list. One upping her big brothers, however, was at the top of her list of favorites, and she decided to delay her revenge until a more humorous opportunity presented itself.

"That was ages ago. I'm sure they've forgotten by now. Gray who?" she queried in a voice the children had used for years to mock their mum behind her back. Even dad got in on it sometimes, though he always made them do something lovely for their mum afterwards, like take care of the washing or bring her a special treat from the shops. Mum had dad completely whipped, and as she looked across the table at her eldest brother Amy had to admit he was the spitting image of their father, if only in that regard. Lucky Pheebs. "Besides, they might feign they like you more at times, but it's just so you don't feel left out. After all, they've not turned my bedroom into a guestroom, have they?" Nevermind that she was still in school and technically lived with their parents, while Edgar was properly grown, married, and had started his little brood already. He was such an adult, even sitting here and trying to play like he was giving her advice but Amelia knew he was really just fishing for details of her plans for the future. Would she give in so easily?

"I dunno...." she said slowly, as if pondering the decision to tell him or not. "Maybe if I had another drink I'd be more willing to tell..." She grinned at him, waiting for him to be a good big brother and order another round - he needed to catch up anyway, the slacker.

Tagged: Edgar Bones
Outfit: tis the season

[Edgar Bones]

"Careful, your face will stick like that." Ed snorted at the look his sister sported, half-wishing Rod was with them to join in on the fun, but pleased to have this time just for them. Those two had had all those years together in Hufflepuff anyway, and he was fond of stealing time here and there with each of them as he could. He almost spat out his drink at the impression, it'd been quite some time since he'd heard her particularly adept version, and clapped a hand to his wounded heart. In truth, he'd bet he wasn't the favorite out of their three spawn - while even as they all became adults, Ed doubted their parents would admit it - what with the grief he'd given them over the years. He'd had a delightful upbringing, no doubt about it, and had helped himself to more than his equal share of fun - hence, the delight he felt. Thankfully, they adored Phoebe, so they had to continue tolerating him. "Would've been a trophy room, if they let me keep them." He could hardly remember the rationales he and the twins and the rest of the team had had for their attempts at claiming the Quidditch or House Cups for themselves - they'd won them, and that was rationale enough at fifteen, eh? - but detentions earned from attempted retrievals were seared into memory, Minerva made sure of that.

Edgar was truly curious about where Amelia would take herself out of school, and hoped he could be among the first to be in the know of what she was thinking. While he didn't like to dwell on it, Ed knew he'd missed out on big moments - hell, he hadn't even gotten to celebrate her birthday with the girl on the day itself since his last year at school - and hoped to catch more now that Amelia was on her way into the world. He could be there for her again, as he'd been when she'd joined him at Hogwarts. Things were different now, of course, as he had more family and a career to consider - but he looked forward to headbutting his way into her daily life again. 

"Not fair, you know I can't say no to you when you've got that on," he lamented in jest with a halfhearted wave at her beaming smile. He dutifully raised his hand up further, getting the attention of a barmaid to order another round, and swiped an empty glass from the next table. "Up for a match while we wait? Sickles?" Ed popped the empty glass to the middle of their table and took out a pair of silver coins, flicking one across to her with a grin of his own. He and the Prewetts had learned this one from their muggle neighbors back in the day, and found Wizarding coins to work just as well as a ten pence.

[Amelia Bones]

Amy scoffed at her older brother's claim, having been some time since last thinking about the ruckus he and his friends had made over attempting to steal the actual trophies for themselves. Honestly, there was a reason Ed had not been sorted into Ravenclaw, and this had been a prime example. It did make for amusing conversations over the dinner table though, dad trying to coerce mum into seeing Ed and his mates' reasons, and mum lightly accusing dad of encouraging their eldest son's path to Azkaban. Well, she was right in a way - Edgar had been heading down a path that would ultimately lead to his involvement the legal system, just not in the way youthful property theft might have suggested. Hearing second hand tales of her brothers' misadventures at Hogwarts had been thrilling for the youngest Bones child, but once she was old enough to attend herself, she was only too aware of how much detail was actually sent to students' families while they were away. Not that it stopped Amelia from getting into her own mischief, but there was always a little dread after the fact as she imagined her parents arguing about her over the dinner table, with Edgar in tow listening silently, judgingly, most of those years. Amelia was once again reminded of her parents' conversations when Edgar announced that he would be joining the Auror Training Academy, and while she'd not been bore witness to many of their conversations, having to go back to school at the end of summer, the memories of what she had overheard made her now feel uneasy about their reactions if she were to tell them that she was considering following Ed's lead and joining law enforcement. Did she want to deal with all of that? Wouldn't it be easier to change course and avoid a row with mum and dad?

Worry was pushed swiftly from her thoughts as Edgar suggested a game of sickles, something he'd learned from the muggle kids in the neighborhood and had shared with her and Rod on rainy days locked inside when they were bored and complaining of nothing to do. Of course, back then Amelia was playing with butterbeers and pumpkin juice mostly. "You're on," she grinned, catching the coin he had tossed her. "Ladies first," she announced, as if he wasn't already going to let her have the first go. Amy tossed the coin onto the table where it bounced up and sailed straight over the empty glass. She laughed and shrugged as she retrieved her coin and awaited her brother's shot.

Tagged: Edgar Bones
Outfit: tis the season

[Edgar Bones]

Amelia didn't waste a moment in readying for the challenge, and Ed was glad for the umpteenth time that his siblings were as fond of competition as he was. They showcased it differently, certainly, with their different skills and assets and priorities, and would wear the label with varying amounts of pride. But whether it was athletics, academics, favorites of professors and parents, in-your-face and subtly-slipped-accolades-into-a-letter-home, there was no denying that striving to be great gave them each a good kick. While it wasn't as though they were truly in competition with each other over anything serious, he felt it helped them to become better, wanting to become the best, and a little healthy competition didn't hurt anybody. And, it often made life more fun. Waiting couldn't be time wasted when there was a company and a game involved, eh?

With a gracious sweep of his hand, Ed assented that she was to start the game - as if he would have argued differently! - and with a laugh, blocked the coin from striking him in the chest. "No way you're just as rusty at this as I am," he lamented with a beaming grin. "You and Annette aren't keeping the games alive without us?" Those badgers got up to more shenanigans than the other Houses would care to admit, the others too busy fighting with themselves about who threw the best party, when those lot were snug in their burrow having a blast. He hadn't been able to make it to too many of Rod's extravaganzas at the new place, but he wouldn't be surprised if his and Bill's would soon be known as the place to be among the Mungo's staff. He raised his arm with the coin, took careful aim, let it fly...and watched as it bounced off the table and clinked off the wall of the glass. He let out a groan of a laugh and retrieved his coin, flicking it up and catching it while he waited for her turn. Shooting Amelia a grin, he teased, "So this is our practice round, yeah?"

[Amelia Bones]

Amelia scoffed as her brother complained about their mutual lack of skill. "Nah, I'm just going easy on you. I figured you'd have a hard time of it, since you're an old man now." Ed was old, old enough that new drinking games had been introduced to the Hogwarts students under the noses of their professors, and had relegated Sickles to the wee hours of the morning when only the most dedicated of partiers was still hanging on, looking for an excuse to drink instead of sleep. So yeah, she and Annette were, in a way, keeping the games alive, even if she were a bit rusty.

Taking the slightest bit more care in her aim, Amelia sent her coin in a perfect arc, bouncing off the table and falling perfectly into the glass. "Wooo!" Her excitement was audible across the pub, arms raised in victory as the waitress looked taken aback by the sudden burst of noise. Realizing the outburst was not a fight, the waitress continued toward them with their drinks, setting them on the table as Amy celebration carried on. "That's one for you," she insisted, fetching her sickle from the glass as she urged her brother to take a drink before readying herself for another throw. Her second attempt hit the edge of the glass and skidded across the table, much to her chagrin. "I'm just easing you back into things. Don't want to have to ring Pheebs to come fetch you later."

[Edgar Bones]

"Older, wiser, more distinguished - take your pick." Ed shrugged off his sister's dig with a grin, and sure, that may have brought out wrinkles that hadn't been there a few years back - but he'd earned them, and as long as the laughter lines were more prominent than the worry ones, he couldn't be bothered. "And take it easy on Dad, not me. What's going on with Annette, anyway? Plan still on to kidnap the strange? Tell us when and where, you know the drill."

In Barking, luck had very much been on their side. Milly had a built-in best friend through the other little Wizarding girl on the lane, and the two had even got to spend their years at Hogwarts as dorm-mates, building on that childhood foundation until they had a castle of their own. He'd be shocked if Annette wasn't the best informed person about his sister's post-graduation pondering, and vice versa. Liz and Kyra's brothers kept him and Roddy on their toes back then, while, admittedly, he'd stopped spending so much time with them after becoming smitten with Phoebe - speaking of luck, growing up alongside his wife was greatest strike of luck he'd ever had. Maybe all their luck got used up inside their cul-de-sac and things had to even out somehow, because Annette's betrothal to the Lestrange kid was something he'd never understood.

He watched as Amelia focused, the witch not about to fall short again - and gave a raucous cheer and round of applause as she succeeded. Thankfully, the waitress was along to replace their glasses, and Edgar made a show of taking his first drink at Amelia's win. He flicked the Sickle back towards her after her second shot and stood, shaking out his shoulders as he prepared for his turn. He wouldn't hear the end of it at home if his wife got a call from Milly, she had Gray on her own until he was back - no, no, he had enough coin in his pocket for the Knight Bus.

"Don't you dare," he cautioned with a laugh. "I may be out of practice at this, but I can drink you under the table." He took a breath and kissed the coin for luck before sending it - a bounce off the table - and into the empty glass. 

[Amelia Bones]

Amelia smiled, eyebrows raising with a tilt of her head as her brother suggested their father was the old man that needed going easy on. She’d not played a full-on drinking game with dad, but they had spent plenty of time in friendly competition whenever she was home from school. Dad preferred a good boardgame to anything athletic, and Amy had introduced him to a few muggle ones that the neighborhood kids had shown her. Scrabble seemed to be his favorite, at last check-in, and he was a whiz at it. Perhaps now that she was of age, she ought to prod him into a drinking version of the game; see what sort of posh words he could come up with when pissed off his arse. Mum would love that.

Ed asked after her best mate and their secret plan to get rid of her horrid fiancée. “Nettie’s being optimistic that she’ll get out of it without force, but I’ve reminded her plenty of times that if anyone could pull a cover-up situation off, it’d be my brothers. Don’t give me that look, I’m not impressed with you, it’s just the truth.” She could see Ed’s head growing larger with every passing complimentary mention. He took his turn with the coins as Amy continued. “Anyway, I’m pretty sure I could find something on him that’d get him sent off to Azkaban. You just know that whole family is up to… something.”

Edgar landed his coin into the glass and Amy happily helped herself to her drink and punishment. “Yeah, you wish.” She took a large gulp of her drink to prove to her brother that he absolutely could not drink more than her and set the glass down on the table, pushing it aside as she readied herself for her next shot. “Besides, if I’m going to do something unsavory, like buy polyjuice potion and sneak into the Slytherin boys dormitory to snoop on that twat, I’d better do it before I apply for the auror program. That’d be a right embarrassment to get thrown out for a stunt like that.” Her next coin landed with a spin around the inside of the glass and she smugly gestured to his drink.