CHEERS TO A BETTER YEAR || DANA

[Deleted]

But it feels like I've opened my eyes again
And the colors are golden and bright again
There's a song in my heart, I feel like I belong

31 DEC 2025 - 1 JAN 2026

Since returning from her time abroad after her breakup with Liam, she hadn't had the time to see the people she cared about. Burying herself in work, she was given at the Prophet; she was as distracted as anyone. Though she did spent Christmas with her parents and Tia, but that was the only time she had seen those that she loved. Maybe she was still scared that Elaine would reappear and threaten her again, though, the villain of her story was dead. But was she? There was always that fear that someone didn't stay dead when they were supposed to.

Dana had been asking to see her since she had returned, and each time, she blamed work for her being busy. But maybe she was just scared to face her best friend, but she knew that she had to eventually. The last time she got a text from her asking if they could hang out, she offered New Year's Eve and Day. She had heard about the party that the Hound Pub was holding and said they should go out for drinks and spend time as the ball dropped. Thankfully, Dana was able to, and they set the time to meet.

She arrived, wearing a black jumper and some black heels, and entered the establishment. She had said that whoever appeared first should grab a table and wait for the other, and it seemed she was the first to arrive—finding a seat through the crowd of people that had come for the event had proven to be a challenge. Thankfully, she caught sight of a table and quickly made her way towards it, slipping down and texting Dana where to find her. Black-painted fingernails tapped against the wet and slightly sticky table, eyes moving around, taking everything in.

@dana

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Deleted]

confidence forgotten.

AH. THE NEW YEAR WAS finally almost here and Dana simply couldn't wait for it. 2025 had brought her a lot of chaos, especially with each event arriving after the next. The good thing was her family...Well herself and her younger brother remained healthy and safe, especially as Noah had finally re-enrolled into Hogwarts in the early winter of 2025 to complete the years he had missed alongside everyone else. With Noah away, Dana continued on with her work, continuing as if life was normal, especially since she didn't have many friends around. Tamara and Tia had left for somewhere abroad and Dana hadn't seen Lars since the start of the year - giving him the excuse of having a busy league year with the Wasps.

It didn't matter to the Knox though, considering she stayed preoccupied with her work and well-being, but what Dana hadn't been expecting while she was hunched over her desk one afternoon was a message in which Tamara had finally accepted her request for the two of them to meet. Whenever Dana had the time, she pestered Tamara - after hearing she had returned home - to meet up with her, but for Tamara, the best day was New Year's Eve. Luckily for the two of them, there was a party being hosted at the Hound Pub which would set off the countdown to start the new year.

Arriving somewhat late in a casual like dress with a black cardigan to keep her warm, Dana started to look for her friend, picking up a pass-byers drink as she did so, her lips eager for the sweet taste of some alcohol. Her day was stressful enough, sending off some owls to her mother in which she hadn't expected, as well as helping Noah with assignments since he was eager to start them early. Little dork. Finally noticing her friend, Dana waved eagerly before heading over to her, sliding Tamara the drink she had grabbed. "You have to taste this." She began, sitting down by her friend to side-hug her.

@tamara & sorry for the delay!

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

But it feels like I've opened my eyes again
And the colors are golden and bright again
There's a song in my heart, I feel like I belong

Should Tamara have been surprised that Dana would be late? She wasn't sure, her eyes going to the watch that rested delicately on her tanned wrist. Her casual lateness was enough for the nervous brunette to gain her courage, brushing a strand of shoulder-length hair. She had cut it when she was trapped away from home because of the Hag's Fever. She felt terrible for not hanging out with the girl she had been friends with since their youth. But at least they could spend the new year together.

She smiled as she looked up from her watch and instantly saw the familiar bob of blonde hair through the crowd. Tamara waved her fingers in reply to Dana's wave and watched as she drew closer. The minute she arrived at the table, she told her she had to try the drink she had grabbed. Tamara let out a little laugh, leave it up to Dana to find some drink. The two shared a side-hug the moment the girl sat down beside her. "What is it?" she questioned, taking the drink and taking a hesitant sip. The taste was different but in a good way. "Not bad," she said in appreciation to the drink before pushing it back towards Dana.

"So...tell me, how have you been? How was your summer? I heard that Noah woke up, that's amazing, Dana..." Tamara was a little sad that she hadn't been here when Noah had woke up, but it wasn't exactly her fault. Well...not entirely that was.

@dana ● sorry for the long wait!

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Deleted]

confidence forgotten.

WHILE DANA WAS ALWAYS TYPICALLY late, no one really minded it. At work, the Knox was usually early, but whenever Dana made plans with friends...It was the opposite. She couldn't put her finger on as to why, but the blonde knew she would make it up to the person who was waiting for her anyway. Finally being with Tamara made the Knox feel slightly more relieved though, especially since the two had only been briefly communicating via owls, while their last in-person meeting hadn't been for months on end. Hags Fever and other things had contributed towards it also but Dana felt more happier now.

"I have...no clue. But it tastes different right? Good different anyway." Her rambles began the moment she took a sip of the drink, while her smile widened as Tamara took a sip of her own, before pushing the glass back to Dana. "Do you want one? Or have you ordered a drink already?" She questioned, lifting the glass to her lips and taking a few more sips.

At Tamara's questions, Dana's smile softened. Her brother waking up was the highlight of the year alongside other things. "Well..We haven't seen each other for what?..A year or so now?..So definitely a lot has happened..." The Knox began, pushing her hair behind her ear. "Richard actually woke up in Winter 2024..But I had to nurse him for a few months, and now hes back at Hogwarts, starting from Fifth Year." Dana paused, trying to remember what else had happened since last winter till now. "Oh, I also think..I might of done something last New Years Eve with Lars...But..We won't get into that yet. Been working all year, then the Hags Fever came around..Am I really missing anything else?"

@tamara | after this thread began, chanel took up danas brother but hes called richard!

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

But it feels like I've opened my eyes again
And the colors are golden and bright again
There's a song in my heart, I feel like I belong

For Tamara, the new year meant a chance to recreate herself, to move forward after everything she's been through. Maybe for others, they had felt the same, but Tamara was looking forward to forgetting this past year with alcohol. And, of course, the company of Dana. After returning from her time away, trapped away from home after she fled London post-break-up with Liam. Hag's Fever had done a number, and she had gotten stuck, luckily able to return in time for Fall. And now, she was ready to forget it all.

The drink felt good going down her throat, a different feeling filling her belly. She nodded her head, "Yeah, it doesn't taste like alcohol, but there is a subtle burn. A good burn though," she said in reply to Dana's question about the taste, a smile gracing her lips when her friend revealed she had no clue what it was. "I haven't ordered; where'd you get that one? Steal it off the table or something?" she questioned, her tone teasing.

If Dana didn't know what it was called, she likely got it from somewhere out in the open. Her doe eyes drifted over the patrons of the establishment, taking them in. She was on the hunt for wherever that concoction was hidden. She watched her friend take another sip, wishing she was nursing her own drink. She had come straight to find a table when she arrived; if only she had gotten as lucky as Dana had in finding something to drink.

Tamara began her 'interrogation' for what Dana has been up to since they last saw each other. It had been a while; they were both busy with their own lives, and then Tamara disappeared after her breakup, and then Hag's Fever; it felt like a lifetime away from Dana. But, much like Tamara and Tia had been inseparable as children, Tamara and Dana had been too. "A lot has, probably more than our owls back and forth had time to tell," she said, a soft laugh leaving her lips. She listened as her friend revealed that Richard had been awake since 2024, and she bit her lip. So he had been awake that long? Then again, she did leave London two months after the new year had started.

"Wait...you spent New Years with Lars?" she questioned, "Lars...as in that Quidditch player you were telling me about?" she added. Tamara had heard a bit about the character from Dana, but not much. And she definitely never mentioned them spending last New Years' together. "You didn't mention any of that in the owls...spill."

@dana

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Deleted]

confidence forgotten.

THE MORE DANA CONTINUED TO sip, the more she fell in love with the drink. The Knox hadn't been that much of a drinker since her father and sister died, especially since she drank so much back then, it kind of put her off. Of course, that didn't stop the blonde from drinking at social gatherings and whatnot, but it was never intensely. "The bartender just finished making it...And the guy wasn't looking so I just.." Dana stopped then to form a swooping action, recreating how she stole the drink from the patron not too far from them. With a grin, Dana then added; "I'm sure if I ask they'll know what it is!" Looking over, Dana waved for the waiter, nodding as they motioned they'll be over once they're done with their current table.

Sipping at her drink as Tamara caught Dana up on everything that had happened, Dana nodded and frowned at certain moments, wishing that she had been there for Tamara at her lowest points, and wishing the Finch had actually caught her up on these things earlier rather than later. "Clearly.." Dana added, finishing up the last of her drink. "But the good thing is..You're here and better now. And I actually have a chance to nurse you or..wipe your tears if anything bad actually happened. It won't be through an Owl this time." She smiled, feeling a lot happier now that the two were together yet again.

At Tamara's next set of questions, Dana looked away with a dark blush, which was timed perfectly as the waiter came over. Dana quickly ordered for the two of them, requesting the drink she just had before turning back to her friend, clearing her throat. "You do realise Lars was just a year older than us in Hogwarts...But! That's besides the point.." She trailed off, looking away again. "I...Don't remember much. Will you accept that as an answer?" Dana remembered enough truthfully, she had plans for a party, but everyone except Lars bailed at the last moment, resulting with the two of them drinking and well...The next day was somewhat eventful.

@tamara

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

But it feels like I've opened my eyes again
And the colors are golden and bright again
There's a song in my heart, I feel like I belong

A laugh slipped free from the brunette's lips as her friend revealed that she had swooped the drink from a guy that wasn't looking. She shook her head, amused at her friend, "Of course you did," she said, her tone filled with amusement. Dana quickly called the waiter, a male who signaled that he would be over when he was finished with the table he was currently helping. With how busy it was here, she wouldn't be surprised if the wait was a little lengthy.

'Clearly...But the good thing is...You're here and better now. And I actually have a chance to nurse you or...wipe your tears if anything bad actually happened. It won't be through an Owl this time.' The brunette nodded her head, "I don't plan on leaving again, so you'll have plenty of time to wipe tears from my eyes...hopefully, there would be any. I feel like I've cried myself out for the next century," she said, laughing as she made light of the moment. Or at least, she attempted to make light of the moment.

She was thankful that the conversation changed towards Lars and Dana; of course, the waiter had the perfect timing of arriving at that moment. Tamara was there to wait, watching as her friend attempted to hide a blush upon her cheeks as she ordered for the both of them, and once the waiter was gone, Tamara raised an eyebrow. She was patiently waiting; she wasn't getting out of answering. And Dana delivered, listening intently as her friend spoke. The brunette narrowed her brown eyes at her friend, "I think you have a lot more memory than you're letting on," she said.

@dana

MADE BY VEL OF GS