I grimaced as the liquor burned a trail down my throat. It left an aftertaste of cinnamon and let a warming sensation resonate through my chest. 
                          
"It's not bad." I took another sip. Fred and George grinned at each other, both knew my distaste for any cinnamon flavored drinks. I'm a firm believer in cinnamon being a dessert spice.
                          
"Your face said otherwise." Fred teased as he took his own cup. I rolled my eyes as the three boys exchanged a laugh. Fred pulled a platter from the table behind us, holding it out to me. "Jam tart, Leah?"
                          
I eyed him suspiciously before slowly taking one. "George, do I want a jam tart?"
                          
He nodded, tossing one in his own mouth to confirm their safety. "It's the custard creams you've gotta worry about." Neville, who was in the process of eating his second, looked terrified with wide eyes and full cheeks at George's words. "I'm only kidding." He grinned as he clapped a hand on the nervous boy's shoulder. 
                          
Neville let out a sigh of relief but his eyes widened once again when he lifted his hand to his mouth. White feathers had begun sprouting from his skin.
                          
Poof!
                          
Where Neville once stood, there was now a gigantic white bird. The entire room was an uproar of laughter, almost as loud as the cheering when Harry arrived. "Ladies and gentleman, Canary Creams! George and I invented them ourselves! Just seven Sickles, what a deal!" Fred grinned, not-so-shamelessly promoting their budding business. Only a minute later, Neville molted in a shake of feathers. He had a big smile on his face as his classmates continued to cheer around him.
                          
The room was getting louder and louder as more and more firewhisky was being consumed. It was easy to distinguish where the Muggle born students were from the different drinking games they played. In my totally unbiased opinion, the Muggle ones tend to be the most fun. 
                          
One of my hands was grabbed and I stumbled as I was pulled onto one of the loveseats in the corner of the room. "Angelina!" I giggled as she slumped beside me. 
                          
"Leah!" She mimicked my voice before breaking into a fit of laughter. She's definitely had more firewhisky than she can handle, and I'm imagining I'll be spending a lot of the night holding her hair for her. She leaned in closer to me, her voice coming out as a failed whisper. "I've somethin' to ask you." Her face was serious for a minute before a laugh bubbled out. "Are you and Fred a thing?"
                          
I bit my lip to hold back my own laughter. "No. Never. He's one of my best friends." I can't imagine a world where we would even appear romantic with each other.
                          
At the mention of the twins my eyes flitted across the room to where the two were still laughing along with Lee. The three were leaned by a tall table, attempting to bounce sickles in shot glasses. It was a Muggle game Lee and I had showed them but both were absolutely rubbish at it. George reached up to push some of his long hair out of his face before lifting his hand. His brows knit together as he carefully lined up the shot, tossing it against the table and smiling triumphantly when it sunk into the glass with a clink. I can't help but be mesmerized by his every move. Everything he does sends heat through my body, especially with a bit of alcohol in my system.
                          
"Good...cuz I think he's cute." She giggled, snapping me out of my trance. "Don't tell him! Chicks before dicks."
                          
I laughed loudly along with her, not fully expecting her to say that. "I won't—I promise."
                          
Katie and Alicia dragged her away a moment later, mumbling something about Dean Thomas. I watched as the three approached a group of boys that were chatting on the opposite side of the room. The couch dipped beside me and I looked over to see George sitting awfully close.