twenty-four

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"No! We aren't going to have some lame ass party! This is the big one-seven. He's turning seventeen!" James exclaimed to Ivy as she smiled. Remus walked along side of him, rolling his eyes.

"But where would we have the party? And you know people are gonna want alcohol. He is turning the legal age you can drink," Remus observed. Ivy's face flushed as she recalled the night where she went on and on about Remus, decently drunk on Butterbeer, somehow.

"You know Fabian and Gideon are pros at sneaking in Alcohol. And the room of requirement is always open," James said in a sing song voice.

"What is the Room of Requirement?" Ivy asked. James gasped, looking at her.

"You haven't lived until you've been in the Room of Requirement!" James said, shaking his head as he took a turn, walking down the stairs with Ivy following behind him.

"That doesn't answer my question," Ivy said grouchily with a roll of her eyes. Remus chuckled before explaining.

"It's this room that supplys you with whatever you need. You think it and it appears. James says that if we think about a party, we'll have everything we need for one," Remus explained. Ivy nodded, understanding mildly.

"Okay, I guess I understand. Also, where are Sirius and Peter?" Ivy said. James shrugged with a smile.

"Peter needs extra help in Transfiguration and Sirius is helping him with the work since he's good at it," James said with a laugh. They sat down in the Great Hall at one of the tables.

        "So we'll have a party this Friday night in the room of requirement. Fabian and Gideon can bring alcohol and Marlene can spread the word. Who's coming?" Remus said. James shrugged, thinking carefully about who should come to Sirius's birthday bash.

"Us, of course, almost all respectable Gryffindors in fifth year and above. Ivy's little group of friends. That's it, I guess," James said, shrugging.

        Once the word was spread, it was all people talked about for the next few days, buzzing with excitement about the party. On Friday immediately after dinner, Ivy and Remus prepared, walking in and examining the party space.

        "Holy shit!" Ivy said. This was her first time using the Room of Requirement, so it was all sort of a shock. The room had a high ceiling and supplied muggle speakers with several song choices by wizard and muggle artists plus a dance floor and a disco ball. There was a table off to the side for drinks and refreshments and a few chairs. A few minutes later, Fabian and Gideon walked in, carrying bottles of alcohol and plastic cups.

        "Yo yo! We got the booze!" Gideon exclaimed excitedly as they set down everything. "Firewhisky, Tequila, Butterbeer, you name it, bitches."

"Great," Remus said with a grin. The red-headed twins turned their attention to Ivy.

"Greetings, Scott," Gideon said with a wink. Ivy gave a smile as they set down all the alcohol and cups.

        "Hello, Prewett. And, other Prewett," Ivy said, the smallest hint of distaste in her eyes as she glanced over at the other red headed twin who was already staring at her.

       "Hi, Scott," Fabian said, offering a smile as he turned away. They both chose to ignore the incident at the quidditch game where she insulted him relentlessly and he knocked her out even though it's what was on both of their minds.

"Ready to get blackout drunk, Mrs. Perfect?" Gideon said with the shimmy of his shoulders. Ivy rolled her eyes, placing a hand on her hip.

"No. The group needs a mediator. Like... a designated driver."

"A what?"

Ivy shook her head. "Forget about it. Also, I haven't ever drank before."

"You've drank Butterbeer, correct?" Fabian said as Ivy shrugged. She thought of the time during the summer when she drank more than enough Butterbeer, something that had been on her mind a lot recently.

"Yes," Ivy said stiffly. Gideon smirked.

"Great. And you can drink without getting blackout drunk, but for newbies like you, it's hard to control yourself. And it seems like it doesn't take much alcohol to get you drunk," Gideon said, analyzing her. She shrugged.

"I don't know. Maybe I'll drink. Probably not," Ivy said, twiddling her thumbs as they looked around the room.

"Well, if it helps at all, Remus is a practically perfect student and is very familiar with getting drunk," Fabian said. Ivy turned her head quickly to glance at Remus who was looking quite embarrassed, his cheeks flushed.

"Sounds like there is a story behind this," Ivy said with a smile, Remus looked away, the wall becoming awfully interesting to him.

"So glad you asked," Fabian said joyfully, pausing to look at Remus's reaction, "basically, little fifteen year old Remus was drunk as shit. Dancing wildly. A total badass. Anyways, he ended up snogging this blonde chick on the dance floor. Woke up the next day with a massive hangover."

Ivy gasped, feeling a short burst of jealousy. "You said you've never had your first kiss, you lying bastard."

"Well I don't count that. I was drunk. I don't even remember it. It wasn't a real first kiss," Remus said, blushing profusely. Ivy smirked, ignoring the envy she has for that blonde girl.

"Well, I'd count it. You may not have gained anything from it, but you can say you've kissed someone. That has to count for something," Ivy shrugged, beginning to walk away. "I'm going to go grab Peter, Sirius, and James. See you and your non-virgin lips soon, Remus!"

She walked out of the door and sighed, turning towards the courtyard where they were sitting. She beckoned them over and led them to the Room of Requirement, trying her best to follow the instructions Remus gave her about how to get back in.

"Happy birthday, Sirius!" Fabian and Gideon said in unison once they successfully arrived. Ivy had already given him his present earlier this morning. It included several things from Zonko's and Honeydukes.

"Thanks," Sirius said, giving them both a high five. After a few more minutes of preparing for the party, they walked to their dorms to change out of their robes. Ivy scanned through her closet, having no clue what to wear.

"Need some help?" Chloe said, coming up from behind her. Ivy nodded. Chloe looked around at all her clothes. "I would say to wear one of my dresses, but they are too big for you since I'm a lot taller. Ooh! But I do have something from my own closet."

         "Nothing too wild," Ivy said. Chloe ignored her, turning back around and grabbing the platform white shoes from Ivy's closet, holding them up in the light to get a closer look at them.

Next Chloe grabbed a tube top and a pair of small jean shorts from her own closet and pushed the clothing in Ivy's arms, ushering her to the bathroom. Ivy put on the tight, sparkly tube top and came out.

"You don't wear a bra with a tube top, silly!" Bella said, immediately walking over with her hands on her hips. Ivy smiled sheepishly.

"Well I don't wear tube tops often." She said, walking in the bathroom once again. A few seconds later, she walked back out, feeling rather exposed.

"Yes! You look so hot!" Jessica said excitedly, watching her through the mirror as she brushed her cheeks with highlighter. She turned around to slap some glitter on Ivy's cheekbones as she laughed. "Everyone is gonna go crazy once they see you!"

Ivy shook her head with a weary smile, lacing up her shoes and looking in the mirror. She ran a few fingers through her curly hair before turning around and looking at the three other girls.

"Alright," Bella said, looking at her with a smirk. "You're officially ready for your first party!"

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