This wouldn't be weird, right?

Emmeline was pretty sure that this was friendly protocol; after all, she'd received presents from friends on her birthday all the time, and none of them had wanted to snog her! Well. She assumed so, anyway! This shouldn't be any different from all those other times, then. She and Edward were coworkers who happened to enjoy each other's companion, so of course she'd get him a birthday present!

The fact that she hadn't gotten the nerve to give him the present until there were only five minutes left in the work day left something to be said.

It was just that--her cousin was there all the time, and if Patrick saw her giving Edward a present it would end up in relentless teasing and then Edward would never speak or look at her again and---not that she cared if he looked at her but sometimes it was nice and why was the clock ticking so loudly? Emmeline let out a breath and rummaged for the wrapped gift in her drawer. She turned to present it from across the room to Edward, but saw that he wasn't there. Had he gone home! Wait! No, he was in the supplies closet, he'd just said!

She hurried up and kept the gift behind her back with one hand, moving down the short hallway until she reached the door of the supplies closet and peered in, "Almost time to go," she said, feeling warm already.

Edward,

I've grown tired of the journals and I'm bored because Alice is finding all of Neville's eggs for him--. How was your Easter? Where would you like to go to lunch tomorrow?

- Emmeline

In all the excitement and hub bub of Ms. Smith's book release (Emmeline had managed an autographed copy--probably not the most professional of things, but she was no professional, not yet), she had found a few minutes to actually appreciate the novel. Emmeline had no problem stepping out into the darkness of the night and battling death eaters, but there was no way she believed she could be brave enough to slap her name on a book that so obviously insulted and attacked the way the world was being run now. The book started off with a bang; you were already immersed in a world where muggleborns were enslaved like house-elves, and muggles were hunted for sport---

Emmeline's heels dropped from her desk as a drawer, or a door, shut behind her. The book dropped to her lap and she tried to look busy by wheeling herself properly under her desk and picking up a quill. Patrick usually just snarked about nepotism or something, but Edward was always quite concerned with how her work was coming. Who knew if he was going to be ridiculously frazzled about the book release or not.

"It's such a shame how no one in this world knows how to use a semicolon," she said, swiveling her chair slightly to see that it was indeed Edward, and not her older cousin. Well, at least she wouldn't get called Emmy or something silly like that.

Getting married was absolutely terrifying. No matter how smoothly Gabriel proceeded through the planning, the discussions, and the actual event, he was holding back getting sick the second he could catch a moment to himself. He knew he didn't love Rachel yet, which might be the reason why he was finding himself so nervous as they sat at the head table of their reception, but he did honestly---he did honestly believe that he could fall in love with this woman. She was fiery with a mind of her own, and though some people might be irritated by it, Gabriel actually appreciated the way she took control of things. He had always been a bit of a follower, and it was easy to agree with Rachel because her reasoning simply made sense.

The reception did look fantastic. Gabriel couldn't believe it was all put together within two short months, but then again he was learning that Rachel was a woman who set her goals and refused to leave them unfinished. Maybe he should look at that as a good thing; surely someone who did not want to get married would not have put so much effort into the ceremony? Or she simply wanted to throw the most beautiful wedding of them all, simply because she could. He didn't know, and didn't mind not finding out as long as they remained content with each other.

He did find her very interesting, however, and that was the first thing a Ravenclaw looked for in a spouse. Maybe all of his concerns were for naught, and it was simply wedding day jitters. His parents had been arranged in a similar manner, and they were still quite happily married (and sometimes nauseatingly sweet about it, too). Gabriel turned and smiled at Rachel, pushing his chair out and offering his hand, "Would you like to dance?"

A chorus of glasses clinging supported Gabriel, and he flushed slightly at all the attention that was on them, once again.


ooc: guest list! We did our best, but if we missed someone let us know!

Who: Maybe my name is Edward, How dare you call me Rachel & Giada Dorny
What: The unconscious ones wake up! Sorta.
Where: Mungo's
When: Now!

( Just as quickly as it had come, the warm feeling that had previously engulfed him vanished. )

Okay, so this reunion?

FANTASTIC IDEA.

Giada couldn't even---there was just so---IT WAS ALL JUST SO EXCITING. She'd seen these people and talked to them and what have you, but to have everyone grouped together, it was--brilliant! The stories that came up and the laughter and it was just right, and she felt like this was absolutely what everyone needed. It seemed like everyone in their year had been touched by the war, and--it was definitely noticeable with some people, but wasn't it better to try and move on with people who actually cared about you, then to sit and let time try to fix everything? Sometimes you needed a smile or a hug, it was just human nature.

Or it was just Giada Vance's nature, but! It was a good medicine, she liked to think.

The hall was gorgeous, and she found herself adjusting the plates and utensils and cups on the buffet table to make them alternate in position and just---looking perfect, because everything was perfect! Almost! It was as perfect as it could possibly be, and that was AWESOME.

She whirled around at a hand on her elbow, and Giada's face lit up brightly, "OH MY GOSH HI!" she let out, literally throwing her arms around them.