"If the shots are strong and the pizza is good, how could I turn that kind of invitation?"
Ginny had been so glad to see Lavender the night of the festival. She’d never spent a great deal of time thinking about her after the Battle of Hogwarts, but it just felt so nice to re-connect. She was one of those girls who ended up in the damage path of Voldemort, Harry, and even Ron. In Ginny’s giddiness last night, she had realised that Lavender deserved more. She deserved the fullness of everyone’s time. And Ginny knew that she was probably last in line for it. But she wanted to try.
Lavender was ahead of her in line and she leaned forward to put her chin on Lavender’s shoulder. “Can I get your tea and also maybe a chocolate croissant?”
It was strange to think back on her very dramatic break-up with Ron Weasley. For a while after that she avoided Weasleys, but that hadn’t lasted long. Bill had reached out and they’d formed a friendship. Lavender didn’t even try explaining it anymore, so when Ginny put her chin on her shoulder she smirked rather than flinched.
“I don’t know anyone with a brain that would turn down a chocolate croissant.” She responded. “Soak up some of the drinks from last night alone. Did you have fun?”
“So much fun!” she said and grinned, standing up straight again “So much fun I’m sore from the dancing.” Giving the order to the barista and offering the required money, she then turned back to Lavender and smiled. “How about you?”
Laughing she nodded. “Yeah, it was a lot of fun, it was fun seeing all the different hair colors, not to mention watching some of the dancing. Lavender had danced some, not as much as some others though. The memory of Theodore telling her about his father, the anger in his voice ringing in her ears. “I did end up speaking in gibberish for a while. That was not the most fun I’ve had, but it was interesting.”
“I’m surprised you’re not looking for a little meaning in the gibberish,” she said, suggesting her way toward Lavender’s school-time bent toward divination. She smiled. “But sometimes the gibberish is just that. I didn’t speak any of it, but I certainly took my sweet bloody time dancing.” A pause.
“I need to get you dancing more often.”
“Oh, this was pure gibberish, and in my mind I thought I’d be saying something normal like how are you and instead said follow red deck,” she laughed. “It would have been a lot more interesting if it had had a hidden meaning.” Her mind did wonder if that was why Nott talked about his father.
“You know, a good night out, I’m in.” She wasn’t as outgoing as she once had been, but a girls night out? That was up her speed.
Ginny couldn’t help but laugh. There was always something peculiar to happen at a wizarding function. But she had an idea, wondering if Lavender would take to something a little adventurous and different. “There’s a place in the Muggle parts of London where you play drums and get paint-splattered. It’s straight out of the 90’s … the shots are strong. They have fantastic pizza. We should try it.”
Tilting her head she thought for a moment. “You know, I think I have the perfect outfit for something like that,” Lavender straightened her head and grinned. “If the shots are strong and the pizza is good, how could I turn that kind of invitation?”
“Obviously you can’t!” The chocolate croissant was provided in a brown paper bag and Ginny passed it to Lavender with a little curtsey. “And the carbs just seal the deal. Next Friday night, you’re mine. I’ll see if we can get some of the Harpies to attend, too!”
“I’ll see if Parvati is free, or just drag her.” Lavender smiled nodding her thanks for the croissant. She knew Parvati might need to work, but she might be able to take her into taking the night off. Malcolm Preece owed her best friend a night off.
“Fantastic. It’ll be a proper girl’s night,” she dipped her head in thanks. “Send me an owl when you have a day that works. I have to get to practise.” Impulsively, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Lavender’s shoulders. “I’m so glad to have seen you.”
Hugging her back Lavender nodded and smiled with a small laugh as she watched Ginny leave. “Likewise!” She called just before the door shut.