┏ ೋღ : 𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐂. ೋღ ┓

𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖋𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖞-𝖙𝖜𝖔:
𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔟𝔦𝔯𝔱𝔥𝔡𝔞𝔶 𝔤𝔦𝔯𝔩 𝔢𝔣𝔣𝔢𝔠𝔱

┗━━━ ೋღ : ©-fictophilic : ೋღ ━━━━┛

𝕾OFT GOLDEN LIGHT FILTERED THROUGH THE CURTAINS OF YOUR BED, casting delicate patterns on the canopy above you. The warmth of sleep still clung to you, your body reluctant to move from the cocoon of blankets.

Then came the sound of hushed whispers.

At first, you thought you might be imagining it — half-lost in the hazy space between dreams and wakefulness. But then there was a rustle of fabric, a barely contained giggle, and the undeniable shuffling of feet around your bed.

Your eyes fluttered open just in time to see the curtains of your four-poster bed rip open.

"Happy birthday!"

The sudden burst of voices startled you fully awake, and before you could even process the moment, a flurry of movement surrounded you.

Cho was grinning, still in her nightgown, her dark hair slightly tousled from sleep. The soft glow of the early morning light streaming in from the window made her look even more radiant than usual. Marietta stood beside her, arms crossed, but despite her best efforts, the telltale quirk of her lips betrayed her amusement. She was clearly trying to act indifferent, though the gleam in her eyes suggested she was just as excited as the others.

Then there was Kyra, always one for dramatics. With a flourish, she tossed a handful of enchanted confetti into the air — tiny, shimmering golden stars that hovered and twinkled before dissolving into nothing. Some landed in your hair, glittering like tiny constellations before vanishing into warmth against your skin.

And finally, Luna sat perched at the edge of your bed, her dreamy gaze meeting yours as she cradled a small package wrapped delicately in parchment. The serene expression on her face contrasted with the excited energy buzzing around the room.

"You lot are ridiculous," you mumbled groggily, rubbing your eyes.

"And yet, we're your friends," Cho teased, plopping onto the bed beside you with an easy smile.

"You should feel honored," Kyra added, stretching her arms high above her head before dramatically flopping backward onto your blankets. "I don't wake up early for just anyone, you know."

"It's barely early. It's past six," Marietta scoffed.

Kyra waved her off lazily. "That's early for me."

Luna tilted her head slightly, watching you with an almost curious expression. "Did you have any nice dreams?"

You blinked, still trying to shake off the haze of sleep. "Uh... I don't remember."

"That's alright," Luna hummed and nodded, as if that was an acceptable answer. "Sometimes the best dreams are the ones that stay hidden."

"Okay, Luna, no deep morning philosophy before breakfast," Kyra laughed. With a shift in her gaze, Kyra gestured over to your nightstand where a small box rested. "Leon gave it to me last night 'cause he was too embarrassed to give it to you today. He said to open it tonight."

"Of course he was embarrassed." You couldn't help but laugh at them — at all of it. The warmth in your chest spread as you took in the scene before you. It was a simple thing, really — waking up to the people who knew you best, the ones who had pulled themselves out of bed just to make sure your morning started with laughter and light.

Marietta tossed a small wrapped sweet at you. "Here. Since I know you're not a morning person."

You caught it with sluggish reflexes and unwrapped it, the familiar taste of honey and chocolate melting on your tongue. A quiet hum of contentment slipped past your lips.

"Happy birthday, by the way," Kyra added, nudging your shoulder playfully. "Happy 15 years of living!"

Cho gave your hand a squeeze. "Yeah, happy birthday."

Luna gently placed the small package in your lap. "And we all pitched in and got you something."

Your fingers brushed over the slightly crumpled parchment wrapping. The gift wasn't large or extravagant, but something about the way Luna had held it — almost reverently — made you certain it wasn't ordinary.

She smiled, her expression unreadable but soft. "Open it later."

You glanced around at them and the way they had gathered here just for you, filling the morning with affection, teasing, and warmth. At that moment, you realized — more than anything — that this was already the best start to a birthday you could have asked for.

The Ravenclaw common room was quiet when you stepped inside, still aglow from the soft morning light streaming through the high-arched windows. Most students were either heading for breakfast in the Great Hall or getting a head start on their studies, but you had decided to stop by before heading to breakfast. You expected nothing more than a few murmured greetings, maybe a casual "Happy birthday" from someone who happened to remember.

What you hadn't expected was Violaine practically launching herself at you the moment you stepped through the door.

"Happy birthday, you absolute nightmare!" She announced, grabbing your shoulders and shaking you slightly for dramatic effect.

You let out a surprised laugh, trying to steady yourself. "Why does everyone insist on calling me something awful when they're trying to be affectionate?"

Violaine smirked, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Because insults show true love."

Before you could protest, Isaac strolled up beside her, hands in his pockets and a knowing grin on his face. "I figured you'd linger around before breakfast," he mentioned, producing a steaming cup of tea from seemingly nowhere. "Happy birthday. Try not to overanalyze the meaning of my gift. It's just tea, not a metaphor."

You rolled your eyes, but the warmth of the cup between your fingers made your chest feel lighter. "Maybe I want to overanalyze it. Maybe this means you think I have a problem and need caffeine to function properly."

Isaac gave you an exaggerated nod. "That is exactly what it means."

Indie approached next, elegantly poised as always, with a small wrapped package in her hands. "Happy birthday," she stated smoothly, offering the gift with a knowing smile. "Something tells me you'll find this quite useful."

Curious, you unwrapped it to reveal an exquisitely crafted quill — one that shimmered subtly in the light, enchanted to never run out of ink. You stared at it for a moment, genuinely touched.

"You didn't have to—"

"But I wanted to," Indie interrupted, giving you a sly look. "Now you'll have no excuse to be asking for an extra ink well."

Fleur arrived next, moving with that effortless grace that always seemed just a little unfair. "Ah, there you are," she greeted, as if she had been expecting to find you precisely at this moment. She leaned in, pressing a light kiss to both of your cheeks before pulling back with a radiant smile. "Happy birthday. I hope today is très magnifique for you."

Despite Fleur's usual composed demeanor, there was something genuinely warm in her voice, and you felt a rush of gratitude.

And then there was Roger, standing slightly off to the side, watching the scene unfold with an amused expression. He held out a book — of course it was a book — and gave you an easy grin. "Figured you'd appreciate something that doesn't require social interaction."

You accepted it with a smirk, flipping it over to read the title. It was one you'd mentioned in passing weeks ago, something you'd wanted but hadn't gotten around to finding. The realization that he had remembered sent an unexpected warmth through you.

"You do listen," you teased.

"Sometimes," Roger replied. "Don't get used to it."

Violaine threw an arm around your shoulders, squeezing you slightly. "You are officially older now. Wiser? Probably not. But at least we can celebrate the fact that you survived another year."

You laughed, looking around at the people who had gone out of their way — even in small gestures — to make you feel special.

As soon as you sat down at the Ravenclaw table, the scents of toast, fruit, and porridge surrounded you. The murmur of students chattering, the occasional burst of laughter, and the clinking of goblets created the morning atmosphere in the Great Hall. Light streamed in through the enchanted ceiling, which mirrored the hues of the morning sky.

Before you could even reach for a slice of toast, Kyra nudged Jamie, whispering something that made their eyes widen in realization. You narrowed your eyes at them suspiciously, but before you could even open your mouth to ask, Jamie suddenly clapped their hands together with a sharp sound that made a few heads turn. "Oh, I nearly forgot! Happy birthday!" Jamie announced, beaming with enthusiasm.

You blinked, caught off guard. "How did you—"

"Kyra," Jamie answered simply, sending a grateful smile toward her. "She told me last night, and I made a mental note to remember!"

"You almost forgot," Kyra pointed out teasingly, grabbing a piece of toast and casually slathering it with jam.

"'Almost' doesn't count," Jamie remarked proudly, puffing their chest slightly before turning back to you with bright eyes. "Anyway, I hope you have an amazing day! Are you doing anything special?"

You hesitated, feeling an odd mix of warmth and embarrassment at the sudden attention. "Not really. Just going to Hogsmeade, same as every other weekend."

"That's tragic," Kyra commented flatly, shaking her head as she continued to slather her toast with jam. "Absolutely tragic."

Before you could respond, a voice interrupted from behind.

"Wait, it's your birthday?"

You turned to see Rowan standing there, eyebrows raised in surprise. He had just arrived at the Hufflepuff table with Cedric and Meredith, the three of them clearly mid-conversation before Jamie's announcement caught their attention. The casual morning buzz of the Great Hall carried on around you, but suddenly, it felt like this small moment had been carved out just for you.

"It is?" Cedric echoed, his expression brightening as he set his book bag down beside him. "Well, happy birthday!"

"Yeah, happy birthday!" Meredith grinned as she plopped onto the bench behind you, dropping an apple onto her plate. "Why didn't you say anything?"

You shifted slightly and shrugged, feeling slightly self-conscious under their attention. "Didn't think it was that important."

"Not important? It's your day! That definitely deserves some sort of recognition," Rowan scoffed, crossing his arms.

Cedric nodded in agreement, his kind eyes warm with sincerity. "You should let us do something for you. Even if it's just sneaking you an extra dessert at dinner or something."

"You act like she needs you to sneak anything," Meredith laughed, nudging Cedric's arm playfully. "She could probably figure out a way to charm a plate to follow her around with cake if she wanted."

"True, but still. It's tradition to make sure birthdays are properly celebrated," Cedric chuckled, shaking his head.

Rowan leaned forward on his elbows, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "If I had known earlier, I would've gotten you something. You should've said something yesterday!"

"I didn't exactly plan on making an announcement," you remarked dryly, taking a sip of your pumpkin juice.

"Well, Jamie did it for you, so too late for that," Kyra quipped, smirking as she bit into her toast.

Jamie beamed, positively delighted with themselves. "You'll thank me later."

"Yeah, you will," Rowan agreed, grinning. "Because now that we know, we have all day to make sure you don't just go about it like it's any other Saturday."

You let out a quiet laugh, shaking your head. "I should've kept it a secret."

"But then you wouldn't have us wishing you a happy birthday," Cedric pointed out, his good-natured smile making it impossible to regret any of this.

You hesitated, feeling an unexpected warmth at the way they all looked at you — genuine and kind, as if they truly wanted to make your day special. It was a simple moment, but something about it made your chest feel lighter.

"...Okay, fine," you relented, a small but unmistakable smile tugging at your lips. "...Thank you."

"That's more like it," Meredith laughed, raising her goblet and clinking it against yours in a playful toast. The others followed suit, and for a moment, the ordinary morning in the Great Hall felt a little bit more magical.

Hogsmeade was alive with the hum of students enjoying their weekend freedom, the streets bustling with laughter. The autumn air carried the scent of butterbeer and freshly baked pastries. Golden leaves crunched underfoot as you and your friends wandered through the village, scarves wrapped snugly around your necks against the chill.

"Honestly," Jamie declared, stuffing their hands into the pockets of their jacket. "What better way to celebrate a birthday than stuffing your pockets full of sugar?"

"It's a crime if you don't," Lewis added with a smirk, twirling his hoodie string between his fingers.

"A crime punishable by having to listen to Jamie rant about Quidditch for an hour," Alana teased, nudging him with her elbow.

Jamie gasped dramatically, clutching their chest. "Excuse me, but my Quidditch insights are riveting."

"More like never-ending," Kyra remarked, rolling her eyes.

Kyra's comment earned a quiet chuckle from Alana, who cast her a sidelong glance. It was subtle, but you caught it — the way Alana's gaze lingered just a moment too long, a flicker of something soft in her expression. And just as telling was the fact that Kyra didn't seem to notice.

It was painfully obvious to everyone — except the two of them.

Rhys leaned in slightly, his voice low with amusement. "They're actually hopeless."

"Beyond hopeless," Isaac sighed, stuffing his hands into his coat pockets.

Meanwhile, Kyra playfully nudged Alana's arm, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "So, if we're ever playing a game of truth or dare, I should dare you to listen to Jamie talk about Quidditch? Would that be considered a true punishment?"

Alana huffed a soft laugh, her breath almost visible in the cool air. "It'd be cruel and unusual, but yes."

Kyra grinned, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Noted."

For a moment, the two just looked at each other, the world around them fading into background noise. There was something unspoken in the way their eyes met — an awareness, a hesitation, something fragile and waiting.

Then Rhys cleared his throat, shattering the quiet tension like glass. "Right, so, Honeydukes first?"

"Absolutely," you confirmed, snapping back to the present. "Then The Three Broomsticks after."

The moment you stepped inside Honeydukes, warmth enveloped you — the scent of melted chocolate, caramel, and spun sugar wrapping around you. Students bustled between displays of Sugar Quills and Fizzing Whizzbees, laughter and chatter filling the air like a melody.

Then Isaac muttered under his breath, "Oh. Fantastic."

The shift in his tone sent a ripple through your group, and your gaze followed his to the other side of the shop, where a familiar cluster of Slytherins stood gathered near the back.

Lorenzo, Mattheo, Blaise, Theodore, Draco, Pansy, and Daphne.

You felt your stomach tighten slightly.

Draco was holding up a pack of the revolting blood-flavored lollipops, a wicked grin on his face as Pansy recoiled with an exaggerated grimace. Mattheo and Blaise looked vaguely entertained by the display, while Lorenzo said something under his breath that made Theodore smirk — though whatever it was, you couldn't quite hear over the surrounding noise.

It was Mattheo who noticed your group first. His dark eyes flickered toward you, his gaze sharp with disdain and the hatred that you were familiar with.

Then Blaise turned, his expression more measured as he took in the sight before him, his gaze lingering for a beat too long before sliding away, as if mentally cataloging the entire dynamic of your group in a single glance.

Theodore stood slightly apart, his hands shoved into his pockets, his usual easy confidence absent as he glanced at you — briefly and fleetingly — before looking away just as quickly.

And then there was Lorenzo. His gaze landed on you and lingered, something softer in his eyes. His lips quirked into a small smile, one that felt like an acknowledgment, a quiet reassurance amidst the silent tension stretching between your two groups.

Noticing Lorenzo's gaze, Pansy followed his line of sight and caught sight of you. Unlike the others, she didn't hesitate. Her face brightened as she lifted a hand in a friendly wave, her smile warm and easy.

Despite yourself, you hesitated, but after a beat, you returned the gesture, feeling the weight of multiple gazes still lingering in the air between you.

Rhys groaned, rubbing a hand down his face. "Of course they're here."

"We could still get what we need and just... stay out of their way," Jamie suggested, though the way they glanced over at the Slytherins made it clear they weren't entirely convinced that was possible.

"Agreed," you answered simply, already steering the group toward the far side of the shop, where the shelves were stacked high with Honeydukes' bestsellers — Chocolate Frogs, Cauldron Cakes, and every variety of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. The scent of sugar and chocolate clung to the air, making the tension in your group feel somewhat out of place in the shop.

"Right," Isaac muttered under his breath. "Quick mission. Grab sweets, get out."

The group spread out, each plucking their favorites off the shelves, moving with careful, deliberate ease — backs