For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!
Auld Lang Syne, tradtional song by Rabbie Burns
*
His resolution had been to discover himself. He needed to analyze what was important to him. He needed to figure out exactly who he was and what purpose he now served, since role of The-Boy-Who-Lived and The Chosen One were quickly scratched off his list as being fulfilled. He needed to figure out how to live now that he could.
It wasn't a New Year's resolution, really. He hadn't made this promise to himself when the clock struck twelve on January first. Instead, he had made this silent vow the moment he had woken up in a hospital bed at St. Mungo's, the first faces he saw, Ron and Hermione, looking down on him . How relieved they all were that all three of them had survived everything. The end of Voldemort had signalled the beginning of their true lives.
Harry eyed the calendar stuck to the wall of the kitchen from his place at the table, a coffee mug steaming in front of him. Red circles and writings littered the hectic month that had been December, and now everyone found themselves fast approaching the end of the year.
Harry had never made a big deal out of New Year's Day. The first part of his life consisted of New Year's Days locked in his little cupboard under the stairs as he heard the Dursley family chant down the countdown and greeted only each other happily by laughing, kissing and clinking champagne glasses. How he longed, in those days, to have a taste of champagne only because Dudley was able to try it, and the glorious chocolate cake Aunt Petunia baked just for that day.
In Hogwarts, the celebrations were nothing out of the ordinary. Most of the time, Harry found himself and his friends just frantically attempting to finish homework that was assigned over the holidays but they decided to push to the last minute. New Year's Day was like a warning beacon signalling that their time of procrastination was rapidly ending and that they better get a move on in their assignments that they put off for the purpose of Christmas. It seemed only Hermione was capable of celebrating, but Harry had never seen her do so unless he and Ron were with her (which they usually weren't, so she helped them with their work instead).
And then there had been the New Year's Day during the time he, Ron and Hermione had been searching for Horcruxes. Harry had been sitting up all night, huddling in a sleeping bag, as he kept watch. He had not even realized it was a New Year until Ron's watch beeped in the night, causing Harry to whip out his wand but immediately settle it down as Hermione opened her eyes sleepily and wished Harry a Happy New Year. Ron had rolled over and grunted.
This year was going to be different. Harry was going to start it off the "right" way now that he finally had the chance to. Fred and George were throwing a huge party at their quarters in Diagon Alley and dozens of people were invited, including, it seemed, the whole of Gryffindor House from past and present. Harry was excited as he would be seeing everyone from Hogwarts and they would all be together again after, who knows how long.
Harry was also excited because this was going to be the night that he was going to confess his feelings for Hermione. He felt that he had been suppressing and keeping them to himself for long enough. What better way to let her know than New Year's? Right at the stroke of midnight with a kiss.
His resolution would be mostly fulfilled. Hermione was one, if not the, most important person in his life. His next step in life? It wouldn't really matter as long as she was in it with him.
*
2:27 PM
"Oh, Harry! I'm sorry I can't speak long. Things here are really hectic right now. Everyone wants to get the hell out of here for New Year's tonight," Hermione said, her head floating in the fireplace. Already Harry could see her appearance reflecting her words, for her hair looked frizzier than usual and she was speaking very fast.
"Sorry, Hermione! I just wanted to know when you'd be home tonight is all," Harry said. He watched as Hermione's eyes darted about, not looking at him but probably at a handful of papers that were in her hands at the office. Her brow was scrunched up. She appeared to not really be listening. Harry coughed. "Erm... and what time you'll be heading over to Fred and George's?" he asked, his voice a little louder.
Her gaze snapped up to him. "Fred and George's?-- Oh right! That's tonight... well, I was considering on heading there around eight or nine--"
"Great! Want me to pick you up? We can go together or something..." Harry said, trying to sound nonchalant about the entire thing.
Something in Hermione's eyes flickered and Harry could have sworn he had seen that look before. "Oh, Harry, I--"
"HERMIONE! You have the Minister of Law Enforcement on the other floo! It's an emergency!"
Hermione was cut short as an urgent shout came from her end of the floo. Her eyes bulged as she went into work overdrive once more. "Oh no! I thought I told Hilda to hand in those reports to him two weeks ago!" Harry felt his heart begin to deflate. "Harry, I really have to let you go now. I'm so sorry! How about I just... meet you tonight at Fred and George's, okay? I'll see you there!" And with a soft pop, her head disappeared and Harry was left grumbling.
He had pretty much, sort of, kind of, asked Hermione out on a date with him to Fred and George's party (even though she had no idea that that was his intention), but work had to invade and leave him with no definite answer. He sighed heavily, getting up from his spot in front of the fireplace. At least she had said that they would meet up at the party.
"Helloooo! Anybody there?" a voice announced from the floo, causing Harry to jump in surprise, knocking his toe into the table. He cursed quite a storm.
"Oi! Hermione would go spare hearing that language from your mouth," a familiar, red-headed friend said with a smile on his face. "And I wouldn't be very happy if you damaged my table in the living room there..."
"Oh sod off, Ron," Harry said jokingly. "Your precious table is fine!"
"Good," Ron said approvingly, making a show of trying to look at it and inspect it for himself. "Anyway, I was just wondering when you were going to come down to Fred and George's to help us the party! We might grab a bite to eat or something. Hermione couldn't make it, she's swamped with work."
Harry nodded. "Yeah, I just finished talking with her before you flooed. The Ministry sure works her to the bone," he said sympathetically.
"They do, or that could just be Hermione, knowing her," Ron joked. "But this is why Fred and George's tonight is going to be amazing! It feels like ages since we've had a real party with all our friends and not some overstuffed celebration for the Ministry."
"Hmm, yeah. I do think that the masquerade held in my honour was a bit much..."
"It didn't even fall on a significant date! They just used you as an excuse to have another lavish affair or something." Ron rolled his eyes and Harry laughed. "So see you soon then? Meet up at The Leaky Cauldron?"
Harry nodded. "Yep. I'll be there soon."
"See you later!" With that, Ron's head disappeared.
You can talk to Hermione later, his mind reassured him.
*
4:03 PM
"How many disco balls do you plan on having, anyway?" Ron asked his twin brothers incredulously.
"Until everyone is blind," Fred answered matter-of-factly. "Can't get enough of dancing lights while we dance!"
"The place looks great, though," Ginny said, looking around the once completely empty room that was now fit for a New Year's party and resembling something close to a bar/nightclub.
"There's no more room for the other Firewhiskey bottles at the bar," Harry said, as he joined everyone standing in the middle of the would-be dance floor.
"Are you a wizard or not, Harry, my good fellow?" George said, his voice coming out of a box he was busy digging through, possibly looking for another disco ball.
"Oh... right," Harry said sheepishly, shrinking the crate of Firewhiskey, small enough to be comfortably tucked away at the bar.
"So are we all done here?" Ron asked, his stomach choosing that very moment to rumble. "Say, is there going to be any food at this party?"
"Just some hors d'oeuvres trays floating about. Not much though. Food only gets in the way of the pleasant feelings of alcohol!" Fred smiled mischievously.
"Yeah. I suggest you get dinner now, otherwise you'll be liquored up in no time with an empty stomach," George said. "Unless of couse, that's what you want..."
Ron seemed to be contemplating the options of eating or getting drunk fast. "I think I'll just eat something now," he said, giving in to his stomach (like always).
"Before you go!" Fred announced. "Time to show you lot our masterpiece--"
"Produced for this special occasion! And perhaps to be on the market for next year," George added as a sidenote.
"Now imagine this. Everyone in this room is chanting the countdown to midnight--"
"Signalling the start of a New Year! Full of fresh starts and opportunities!" Harry felt himself being drawn into this thought.
"Suddenly, BAM! It's twelve! And what happens at twelve?"
"You kiss someone!"
"And if you're not kissing someone?"
SLAP!
SLAP!
SLAP!
"OW!" Harry, Ron and Ginny chorused.
"You get a hard, invisible smack in the arse, for being a bloody arse and not kissing someone at midnight," Fred finished, smiling approvingly as Harry, Ron and Ginny rubbed their bottoms. "What do you think?"
"Would people actually buy this?" Ron asked. "Merlin, I think you bruised something!"
"All in good fun, brother. All in good fun!"
*
4:49 PM
Harry and Ginny watched in disgust as Ron lapped at the pea soup The Leaky Cauldron was famous for... but not in a good way. He stopped slurping to give them a shrug. "I was craving The Leaky Cauldron's pea soup..."
"Their soup's horrible, Ron!" Ginny exclaimed. Ron shrugged again. Ginny pushed her basket of fish and chips slightly farther away. She shifted slightly in her seat, resulting in a wince. "Ooow, my arse is still sore from Fred and George's ruddy... thing."
Harry and Ron agreed. "Looks like we better have someone to kiss tonight or... I don't want to think what'll happen if I get smacked that hard again. It might dislodge something..." Ron said, shuddering at the thought.
"Well, I don't have to worry. I have Neville as my date tonight!" Ginny glowed happily, perhaps at the thought of Neville, or the thought of not getting her bottom thoroughly abused. "Well, I should be going. I said I would meet him before the party!"
"It's not even five!" Ron said, exasperated, but Ginny did not hear him. She threw some money onto the table for her share and practically pranced out the doors. "Girls..." Ron mumbled, taking a final slurp from his pea soup and starting in on Ginny's unfinished fish and chips. "Does it bother you?" he asked suddenly after some quiet munching.
Harry was startled at the question. "No," he answered honestly. "Why would it?"
Ron shrugged. "I dunno. You and Gin used to be something, right?"
"Used to," Harry emphasized. "And it was great... but it didn't work out. Not with all the... stuff that went on."
Ron nodded. "So who are you bringing tonight?"
Harry coughed a bit on his drink. "Erm... no one really. I was just going to meet up with everyone there."
"But who are you going kiss at midnight? Don't tell me you're going to take another blow to your arse!"
Harry rolled his eyes, but also felt a blush creeping up his cheeks. Nobody knew about his intentions with Hermione and hopefully getting together with her that evening. Nobody knew that he even fancied her!
Well, maybe at least Ron should know... his mind rationalized.
"I... I was thinking of... Hermione," he said, slowly and deliberately as he munched on one of his chips.
Ron gaped. "You fancy Hermione?" he exclaimed.
"Er... yeah." He blinked. "You don't have a problem with that, do you?" he asked frantically, as he remembered Ron and Hermione's stormy relationship after sixth year.
"No! No, I don't! Don't worry, mate!" Ron quickly reassured him. "Hermione's had, what, three other blokes after me, hasn't she?" he scoffed. "I just didn't know you fancied her! It's like it just came out of the blue!"
"Well, I've mainly kept it to myself, really," Harry explained. "I was hoping tonight would be--"
"But Harry!" Ron cut in urgently. "Hermione has a date tonight!"
The words that came out of Ron Weasley's mouth were processed in very slow motion. Harry's mind simply did not comprehend it.
"Bu--whaa?" he said weakly.
"Yeah, mate," Ron answered him sympathetically. "She told me when I flooed her at work today."
Harry blinked several times to clear his head.
"Hermione's going with Dean Thomas."
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