Friday Night is Date Night!

[Chase Connors]

Chase threw himself down on his bed and sighed. It was a Friday night and he didn’t have a date. Friday night was date night. Everyone knew that. His hormones were raging and images of a dozen hot chicks raced through his mind.

He reached under his bed and grabbed at whatever magazine he could fine and started flicking through. Photo’s of hot, semi-naked witches waved out of the page at him, blew kisses, and struck sexy poses. He groaned. He really needed a date. Right now, he’d settle for a good make out session in a broom closet somewhere. Heck! He’d probably settle for a bloke right at that moment.

He flopped back on his bed, feeling the stares from his fellow roommates watching him. He sat up suddenly. ”What are we all doing here? It’s a Friday night! Let’s go get drunk and snog girls already!”

Chase jumped off his bed and looked at each of his roommates in turn. Surely someone would want a drink with him.

[lachlanparker]

"God Chase," Lachlan laughed as Chase pulled out his scantily-dressed-witch magazine. "You are such a perve." He threw one of his pillows at Chase's head. Lachlan sat atop his bed, of which Chase's was to the right, and tried desperately not to fall into the flashbacks he was having of that horrible night.

No, he stopped himself before he even started to think of it. He'd only just been released from the Hospital Wing, but poor Marlene McKinnon was cooped up at St. Mungo's with a million different injuries. Lachlan longed for the futuristic technology he read about in Muggle Studies, where they could stop things like severe internal bleeding. They weren't having much luck with it down at St. Mungo's - and that was with magical intervention!

"Already ahead of you." Lachlan grinned as he, too, reached underneath his bed. But, instead of pulling out witch-porn, he pulled out a bottle of Firewhisky. It would surely do the trick for Chase's boredom. He chucked it over to his friend and grinned. "Hey!" he said, snatching it back after a minute. "Don't drink all of it."

It was hard to fall back into step with his friends. Trent, in particular, was worried about Lachlan, but as much as Lachlan tried to convince them all that he was fine, there were no two ways about it. He wasn't coping. Hopefully the Firewhisky would help knock him out cold tonight and relieve him of the continuous nightmares he'd been having over the past few nights.

"So who are you fancying tonight, huh?" Lachlan asked, unsure of what his own answer would be.

[/justify]

[Chase Connors]

Chase ducked the pillow launched at his head and laughed. ”Not a perv, just horny, mate.” He grinned.

After looking around his roommates to see if anyone was interested in a good ol’ piss up, he gaze went to Lachlan and stayed here. Perfect target. If anyone needed a good drink some good loving right now it was Lachie.

Chase tried not to wince at the memory of being told that there’d been a death eater attack at Hogwarts and Lachie was hurt. His heart had nearly beat right out of his chest with worry till he saw his good friend awake and talking in the hospital wing.

Yes. Lachie definitely needed a good drink to take his mind off things. Unsurprisingly, he was the first to agree and pulled a bottle of Firewiskey out from under his bed, chucking it in Chase’s direction.

”Ta mate!” He took a long swing from the bottle hoping that it would go straight to his head.

Lachie grabbed it back from him before he could drink any more. ”Oi!”

Lachlan went quiet for a minute and Chase had no doubt that his mind was back on the attack. ”Lachie?” Boish did he need a good distraction and a half tonight.

When asked who he was fancying tonight Chase wasn’t quite sure who to say. To be honest, he wanted something – someone – new. An idea clicked and his eyes lit up.

”Actually, I think I fancy a picking from Three Brooksticks tonight.” He waited for a reply with a smug look on his face. He hadn’t told them about the marauder conversation he’d overheard where they were talking about a secret passage that lead to Honeydukes cellar.

He was in the mood for breaking rules tonight. Now he just needed the others to be feeling the same way.

[lachlanparker]

Lachlan grinned. "Well, you're a pervy, horny fifteen year old. Let's get smashed." It was the natural assumption, after all.

He took a swig out of the bottle he had just taken back of Chase, who was now sitting opposite him and complaining about the lack of alcoholic beverage in his hands. The fiery, hot liquid trickled down the back of his throat, causing him to cough a bit. "Whoa boy, that's strong." He handed the bottle back to Chase with a disgruntled look on his face. But, it was a well known fact. The faster you drink, the quicker you were to getting drunk.

It was still early in the day; well, dinner was still happening downstairs in the Great Hall. It was early enough for the two of them to sneak out to Hogsmeade for a bit, without getting caught and being locked outside the enormous wooden doors of Hogwarts. "Yeah, alright," Lachlan said, eager to accompany his friend on their adventure. "Three Broomsticks it is!" He made a superman pose to go with it.

Thinking along the superman lines, being the muggle that he was and having Firewhisky intoxicate his system, Lachlan picked up the crochet blanket on his bed and tied it into a cape around his neck. "I'll be Batman and you can be Robin!" Lachlan exclaimed as he jumped up onto his bed. Okay, no more Firewhisky for him.

"Anyone else coming?" He asked, almost disappointedly to the rest of the people sitting around him, but there were no takers. "Alright. Just you and me then, bud."

He jumped down off the bed and linked his arm through Chase's. "Let's go.'

[/justify]

[Chase Connors]

”I’ll drink to that mate!” He said, taking another swig of the whiskey Lachie had just handed back to him. A shiver ran down his spine as the warm liquid rushed through him. Lachie was right, it sure was strong. Once the shivers passed he took one more long gulp before handing it to Lachie again. God knows at this rate he wouldn’t make it out to Hogsmeade without falling over!

Chase couldn’t help but laugh as Lachlan wrapped his blanket around his shoulders and said he was Batman and Chase could be Robin. He himself, hadn’t the foggiest clue of the story of Batman and Robin but he didn’t care, just grabbed his own blanket from his bed. He’d run around the castle with a blanket on his shoulders if it meant seeing Lachie happy again. ”Woo! Let’s get smashed, Batman!”

They both jumped out of bed as Lachie asked the rest of the room is any of them were coming with them. They shared a disappointed look at the negative response from the rest of the room. What a bunch of boring sods! It was a Friday night for God’s sake.

”Yup. Just the two of us it is.” The others didn’t know what they were going to miss. If one thing was for sure, Chase was going to make sure that Lachie had so much fun he didn’t have a second to think of the attack.

[lachlanparker]

Lachlan registered the confusion on Chase's face at the mention of Batman and Robin. It was no wonder he'd been attacked last week; he was more muggle than wizard, sometimes. "They're superheroes." Lachlan explained, shrugging, as he set himself back down onto the bed, the cape still draped around his shoulders.

Although, he was sort of grateful that Chase didn't know who Batman and Robin were, else the two of them would be in an argument as who would be Batman and who would be Robin.

Linking his arm with Chases', and making sure that his cape was fasted securely around his neck, the two friends walked arm in arm into the common room, eventually making their way towards the entrance hall. Lachlan had received a number of funny looks as to why on earth he was wearing a cape, and there were the usual whispers of That's him. The one that got attacked. but Lachlan tried to put them out of his mind, and out of earshot. He didn't need it tonight.

"You're not going to try and talk up Rosemerta again, are you?" Lachlan queried, his arm still liked with Chases' as the two of them walked down the lit path towards Hogsmeade. They'd had no trouble getting out of the school, but Lachlan wondered how easy it was going to be to get back in. "Because, if you remember from last time, that nearly got you kicked out." Chase was a flirt beyond belief, but it was just one of the many things Lachlan loved about his friend.

Eventually, the two of them reached the front door of the Three Broomsticks and after opening the door for Chase, Lachlan followed suite. "Rosemerta!" Lachlan boomed, a big grin slapped upon his boyish face. "Two of your finest butterbeers!" After the beautiful young witch rolled her eyes at the two of them, Lachlan took a seat up at the bar.

His eyes scanned the Three Broomsticks warily, in case of any more attackers he would find himself in trouble with. The Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor and Lachlan's Muggle Studies teacher were hidden away in the corner and Lachlan grinned. They were so cute together.

"Chase," Lachlan said, about to point out the two lovebirds in the corner, "Hey, look, it's --" but Chase wasn't listening. He was already busy trying to chat up the bartender.

[/justify]

[Chase Connors]

Lachie asked him if he was planning on chatting up Rosemerta again and reminded him of the last time he’d tried. He had nearly gotten himself kicked out, but he’d had a little too much to drink and was completely on the floor that night. It hadn’t been intentional to wobble and fall over, and it certainly hadn’t been his intent to grab a grope as he tried to steady himself. He wasn’t complaining of course, but she sure had been.

”I remember mate. I’m hardly going to forget those tits in a hurry, am I?” He grinned and pushed Lachie’s arm. ”I might be nice, tonight. It can be your turn to feel her up.” His grin widened. Tonight, he’d do anything if it meant keeping Lachie’s mind off things.

As soon as they walked through the doors of the Three Broomsticks the heavy air and atmosphere hit them and the smell of alcohol filled their nostrils. Lachie shouted over to madam Rosemerta for two butterbeers and Chase grinned as he saw her. They headed over to the bar and took a seat.

It was still early in the evening so there weren’t many people in the pub at that point, which wasn’t a bad thing. Lachie was glancing around the room but Chase’s eyes stayed on the pub owner as she moved around to get their drinks. Even for an older woman there was no denying she was remarkably hot. And she had the best…

No. He wouldn’t let his mind go there. He made small talk, not really planning on chatting her up too much tonight as his mind was still on Emily. He knew he’d been the one who had suggested going out and snogging random girls but there was still that small bit out doubt in his mind.

To be perfectly honest though, who was really going to see them at the Three Broomsticks? Aside from himself and Lachie there wasn’t really anyone around who could regale the tales of their little…escapade .

Glancing around the room he spotted a couple of hot blondes sitting around a table at the far side of the room, short dresses revealing a little too much skin. With a grin, Chase grabbed both of their butterbeers and stood up, heading in the direction of the blondes. ”You coming, mate?”

If anything would distract Lachie this would. Besides, the blankets still wrapped around their shoulders were bound to leave an impression.

[lachlanparker]

Lachlan grinned as Chase pushed him in the arm. "Careful, you weenie," he said, shoving Chase in the shoulder in return, "Or it'll be your tits I feel up next."

---

The Three Broomsticks was warm and inviting. The sun had begun to set over the horizon, casting an orange glow over the rooftops and dewy grass in the village. As Rosemerta came by with the butterbeers, Lachlan stared blankly out the window. It was things like this he'd taken for granted before the attack. Now, all he could do was appreciate every small thing in his life. After all, his life had nearly been taken from him and Lachlan was thankful to still be breathing.

Lachlan was barely paying attention to Chase. Usually, he would have been all over Rosemerta. He knew about the kiss that he and Emily had shared back at the Astronomy Tower, but as wary as he was, he had no idea it was stuck in Chase's mind like wart-plaster. "Mmm?" Lachlan said, wide-eyed, as he hadn't caught what Chase had said to him. He followed his friend's gaze, only to see a small group of blonde girls - presumably either from Hogwarts, or the village - that had no doubtedly caught Chase's eye.

Grinning, and pushing aside the recurring thoughts of how close his death had been, Lachlan got up off the table and made sure his cape was still in tact.

"Ladies," Lachlan said, a small growl at the back of his throat. "I hope this seat isn't taken." He pushed Chase aside to sit next to the closest one. Casually, he put his arm around the back of her chair and yawned, hoping it wasn't seeming too cheesy. "I'm Lachlan, and this here is Chase."

[/justify]

[Chase Connors]

”You’re the weenie mate. A skinny one and all.” He playfully shoved Lachie again then stepped out of his reach. ”Aww, babe, you want my tits?” He held up his hands to cover his chest, giving a mock gasp. Yup. The Firewiskey was definitely kicking in already.

----

Chase grinned as he watched the look that crossed Lachie’s face when he directed them over to the blondes sitting across the room. As expected, Lachie was straight on his feet and across the room, rearranging his cape blanket as he went.

Chase let him take the lead of the situation and tried to keep a straight face at Lachie’s completely cheesy introduction and attempt at being casual. He did laugh when Lachie pushed him to one side and stole the nearest chair, grinning at the blonde across the table who just rolled her eyes at the scene before her.

Chase stepped quickly around the table and dragged a seat up next to her. He winked. ”Don’t worry, babe. I’ll keep you company. That one’s always been a bit weird in the head.” He nodded in Lachie’s direction and grinned. The blond on Lachie’s other side giggled. The one next to him didn’t seem impressed.

Damn. It was just like him to get the awkward one, wasn’t it?

[lachlanparker]

The night went off with a bang. The girls were absolutely lovely in every sense of the word. Gorgeous, stunning personalities and absolutely hilarious. Throughout the night, Lachlan had learned that they were all living in Hogsmeade Village and two of them were home schooled sisters. The other girl - the awkward one - went to Hogwarts, and they were having their weekly catch up session, of which Lachlan and Chase had crashed for the night.

Not that they seemed to mind in the slightest.

Time flies when you're having fun. The night passed with copious amounts of butterbeers, laughter and Lachlan had managing to score the address of the home-schooled sisters. Well, to be fair, one of the sisters did have their eyes on Chase, so no doubtedly Chase would be tagging along with him on their next visit. Hours felt like minutes and as they bade their goodbyes, Lachlan was left wondering where the time had gone.

Arm in arm, once again, the two Hufflepuff boys left the Three Broomsticks in high spirits. Lachlan had barely thought about the attacks once since sitting down with the group of girls and he was mentally high-fiving himself for it.

"Thanks, man," Lachlan said quietly as they started back on the path back to Hogwarts. "I needed that." He was referring to the female company the both of them had shared that night. It had worked a treat on taking his mind off of things. It was well after curfew, now, and both Lachlan and Chase were going to have to find a way back into the school without getting caught. "Seems like Char.. Charlotte? Charlemane?" Lachlan had already forgotten the girl's name. "Had her eye on you."

Lucky for them, John Dawlish and Katherine Dupree had just finished up at the Three Broomsticks, as well, and would be able to pass through the doors without suspiscion. If they followed closely behind, they would be able to sneak back in without any problems.

[/justify]

[Chase Connors]

Chase hadn’t seen Lachie looking so carefree in the past few days as he was then, downing butterbeers and chatting up chicks in Hogsmeade. The pair of them had sat for hours, blankets still tied around their shoulders and a drink in hand, chatting to the girls who seemed happy to have them at their table. Even though he could see the girl in the middle looking at him he didn’t move around to sit between them like he would have done any other time prior to then. While the blonde girl was hot, he knew one that was a whole lot hotter. And that other blonde just wouldn’t leave his mind.

Chase could do nothing but laugh and buy another round as Lachie managed to wrangle the address of the two sisters, and somewhere in his alcohol muddled mind he got the image of Lachie being jumped by the both of them in his mind and his thoughts went haywire. He could imagine Lachie doing something like that as well… lucky b*stard if he ever got the chance… Maybe he would. And that would be one hell of a distraction from his memories.

The night drew to an end soon enough and before they knew it they were linking arms and heading out of the pub, and back towards the school. Lachie thanked him quietly. Chase didn’t need to ask what for. It was obvious that he’d needed an escape from the real world for a bit.

”Any time, mate. Any, time.”

Lachie tried to tell him that one of the girls had had her eye on him, which he already knew. He also knew the girls name which was more than could be said for Lachie, but his struggle was rather amusing so he let him continue. ”Yeah, man. Charlene had her eyes on everyone so I wouldn’t think too much of it” He bumped into Lachie’s arm, meaning to do the same thing as they’d done on the way there, but instead –with alcohol and linked arms –they both went tumbling to the ground.

Chase laughed as he noticed the situation they were in. A wicked grin spread across his face. The ultimate ‘act normal’? This was his chance. Who cared about sneaking back into the school behind their teachers as he was sure they were planning to do – he knew another way back.

Grinning from his position sprawled half across Lachie on the grassy ground, he gave his friend a once over. ”I know you love me and all that, Lachie-babes, but is this really necessary?” His grin spread. Nope – the fun wasn’t over yet.

[lachlanparker]

Lachlan frowned. "Everyone?" Including the other girls at the table? Wow, Lachlan was more unobservant than he'd originally thought. In lieu of having any more thoughts on the subject, Lachlan suddenly tumbled to the ground with Chase landing on top of him.

He grinned at Chase's comment. "Checking me out, are ya?" he slurred, still a bit tipsy from the mix of firewhisky and butterbeer he'd consumed earlier on that evening. "I knew you couldn't stay away for long." Lachlan unlinked his arm from Chase's and ruffled his hair, grinning at his friend on top of him.

Whoa, wait a second. Chase was on top of him. Was it just the alcohol, or was this really happening? "But darling," Lachlan said, feigning a female voice. "Whatever shall young Emily think?" He was referring to the kiss that Chase and Emily had shared, but made no other mention of it. They would be cute together, but Lachlan would have to keep his eye on them at all times...

"You know, we're missing our one ticket to getting back into the castle," he said, raising his eyebrow, getting slightly used to the reality of Chase being on top of him. He'd had worse. Much, much worse.

"And," Lachlan paused, looking down at the situation that the two of them had suddenly found themselves in, "if someone comes out to find us, we'll be labelled as poofs for the rest of our lives."

[/justify]

[ ooc: just wanted to say for anyone who's reading this, there's no homophobia meant in that sentence at all. just being the 70s and all, it's the kind of thing someone would say. i'm all for gay marriage. <3 ]

[ ooc 2: and i'm sorry it's so short and so bad. my brain = dead ]

[Chase Connors]

”Pretty much everyone, yeah. But I think her eyes kept going back to you, mate.” He winked. ”Get in there, you lucky b*gger, you could easy get ‘em all at once.” He grinned devilishly.

He saw Lachie grinning up at him as they lay sprawled on the ground and heard his slurs. This was more like the Lachie he knew, even if he did need to mix in some – a lot – of alcohol. ”Aww yeah, you’re gorgeous Lachie-babes. You know me too well. It was only a matter of time.” Lachie’s grin was infectious and Chase returned it.

Lachie feigned a feminine voice and Chase spluttered a laugh at how ridiculous he sounded as he asked about Emily. They needed the laugh so Chase returned the voice while struggling to answer past his suppressed laughter. ”Young Emily can think whatever young Emily would like to think seeing as she has no intention of a repeat performance.” Chase pushed himself up with one elbow and dramatically covered his heart with his other hand. ”Rejected.” he mock sobbed. ”I’m totally heartbroken Lachie-babes I think she’s turned me against girls for life.” He grinned as he said it. Nothing would turn him from the ladies that easily and Lachie knew that. Still, a little exaggeration had lead to some hilarious conversations in their dorm in the past.

Chase listened to Lachie telling him they were missing their way back into the school and that if they were seen they’d be labeled as gay for the rest of their lives. He could only laugh. ”Who cares about the ticket – know another way in. Way more fun.” He winked, as per usual.

”As for being poofs…” He ran the hand that had been held over his chest down over Lachie’s chest, swerving off to trail down his side when the closeness of their bodies prevented him from going any further between them, knowing that Lachie was ticklish on his sides. It was only then that Chase actually realized how close they were. Somehow, he alcohol muddled brain just didn’t seem to care and he was in no hurry to move.

[lachlanparker]

Lachlan grinned sheepishly. Chase was probably just letting him have the girls because he felt sorry for the ordeal that Lachlan had been put through, but Lachlan appreciated the gesture all the same. Usually Chase would have jumped at the chance, but who knew. Maybe he and Emily were more of an item now than Lachlan had previously anticipated. Anything could happen.

His query about Emily and Chase was soon quashed by Chase's dramatic performance. "Aw man, pity," Lachlan said in response, putting on a fake pout. "You and her would be so cuuuuute together." Lachie snorted at Chase's comment about being put off girls for life. "I always knew you had a secret thing for Trent!"

Lachie was slightly taken aback at Chase's knowledge of the secret entrances in and out of the school. He raised an eyebrow at his friend and stopped walking, giving Chase a 'what?' kind of look. "You know about secret passageways?" he queried, almost in a hit of hysterics because of the amount of alcohol the teenager had consumed.

As Chase's hands moved down to Lachlan's sides, Lachlan burst into a fit of giggles at being tickled. "Noooo! Chase!" he said, unable to say any more due to the hysterics coming out of his mouth. "Stooooop!" He rolled around on the ground, Chase on top fo him, trying to get Chase to stop tickling him. Eventually, after a few moments of trying to push Chase off of his writhing body, Lachlan managed to exert enough power to get Chase's hands off him, and eventually push Chase off.

"So not fair," Lachlan grinned as he sat up, panting because of his short-breath. "I will get you back for that, mister," he waggled a finger in Chase's face. "Help me up." He put his hands up in the air for Chase to grab so he could hoist Lachlan back onto his feet.

[/justify]

[ ooc: it's crap. i tried. i'm sorry. DDD: ]

[Chase Connors]

Chase grinned like something of at idiot from where he lay above Lachie. Hmm, yes, he rather thought so too... well, as far as Chase was capable of thinking about any girl when it came to relationship-y things. That wasn't really his area. But, he really did have that girl on his mind a lot, so who knew what would happen if she ever did give him another shot... unlikely, but hey.

At the comment about Trent, Chase scoffed, unable to keep even a slightly serious face. He was straight as a board. Any joking on and acting camp was completly purposeful and not a reflection of his actual self. It was fun to wind Trent up about stuff though. That guy took things waaay too seriously. "Nah man, look at me." He stuck his tongue out.

Chase made no comment about the secret passage ways, just winked in a way that was supposed to look secretive, but the amount he'd had to drink, probably just looked stupid.

Lachie fell into fits of giggles as Chase tickled his sides and his grin grew. Now this was the Lachie he wanted to see. Mission most definitely acomplished tonight.

Lachie was writing and squirming beneath him and it was all Chase could do to stay on top of him. Something in the back of his mind was asking why he even wanted to stay on top of the writhing Lachie, but he ignored that voice. Heck... Lachie best stop the bloody wriggling mind!

Eventually though, Lachie managed to push Chase off him where he fell to the ground next to him, laughing right along side him.

When Lachie told him he'd get him back for what he'd done, Chase just raised an eyebrow from where he still lay on the ground. Then, he burst into laughter as Lachie raised his arms and told Chase to help him up. "I doubt I can get myself up without falling never mind you too, you great lump!" With a grin Chase pushed himself from the ground to knock Lachie back over again. "Tickle time!!!" He shouted between his laughing as he resumed his attack on Lachies sides.