Birthday Boy

It was that time of year. January 17th was the one of the only two days of the year where all hell broke loose among the death eaters. It was the Dark Lord's birthday. The hardest part of it all was trying to get a new birthday present. After 50 years of birthday presents it was really hard to think of anything new. I had one day to think of it, too.

One day… Brilliant. What can I get him? I thought as I walked down the hallway for a meeting.

I slipped into my seat just as He started talking.

"As you all know, my birthday is on the 17th. It will be held at 7 P.M. that night at the Malfoy Manor," he said.

Lucius nodded his head in appreciation for the pats on the backs he was getting from fellow Death eaters.

Asshole. He holds one party is "all that" now. Fucking Retard.

The Dark Lord gave them an evil glare. "I expect presents from all of you," he spat, drawing out the "S" sounds. "Some of you may have got the impression that this year will be western themed. It will notbe western themed."

A small "Oh" ran through the assembled Death eaters.

"I expect to see you all there," He said then disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"Unless you forgot a present," said Lucius as he apparated.

Brilliant. One day I forgot a god damned present.

I walked through the dining room of the Malfoy Manor and started pacing.

"Don't have a present yet?" asked Lucius. I turned around to face him. I noticed Narcissa clinging to him, her head on his shoulder.

"What's it to you?" I answered back.

"Just wondering…" he said, while innocently looking at a painting in the room.

"Do you want me to point you two in the direction of a hotel room?" I screamed. Narcissa had begun whispering into Lucius's ear and massaging his shoulder.

"Bella! How can you say something like that?" Narcissa said looking hurt.

"Go away!" I screamed again, and ran into my bedroom to think.

I could always get him something like a new cloak. But he doesn't really need one. Holy shit this might take a while… What about… oh, never mind. This is never going to work!

I eventually lapsed into sleep that night, after thinking about what terrible punishments I was going endure because of my lack of giftage. I awoke in the morning, and this morning I was extra disheveled from the lack of sleep. I walked down stairs and sat at the end of the dining room table, nursing my cup of hot chocolate. Lucius and Narcissa were already at the table and talking about something that was obviously really boring. Suddenly they stopped talking.

"Got a present yet? We have," said Lucius haughtily.

"Why do you care?" I answered.

"Got any ideas?" Lucius asked again.

"No," I said, resigned.

"Well I know what he wants you to give him," Lucius said with a smirk.

"I know too, exactly what you want me to give you," I said silkily, batting my eyes.

That shut Lucius up. He looked awkwardly at me, and went back to his breakfast.

"Wait a second, have I missed something?" asked Narcissa.

I rolled my eyes and went back to my hot chocolate.

The day went in a flash. It seemed only seconds from the time when I went back to my room to think, to the time I heard the doorbell ring.

Shit!

I hadn't gotten a present yet. I ran into the back of my room and started throwing things out of my bag. Of course, Cissy had offered to help me unpack, but I live in hope that a better opportunity will arise than me living at my sister's house. I finally found what I was looking for: a silver padlock. I had swiped it from my sister's stupid pink diary the night before as a last resort.

Time for plan Z.

I tapped the thing with my wand. Suddenly the lock grew too twice its size, turned a sort of tiger stripped pattern, and grew eyes. I poked it experimentally with my wand. Its eyes opened and a mouth stretched wide and uttered a shrieking sound. The small pointed teeth gnashed, hoping to grab everything within range.

Better than nothing, I thought as I shoved it into a box and tied a black ribbon around it. With that done, I pulled on my dress robes. Grabbing the box, I headed downstairs.

The sounds of dark wizards mingling hit my ears before I was half way down the stairs. I heard the clink of wine glasses, the soft murmur of talking wizards, and the not-so-soft shouts of people Avada Kedavraing spiders. I breathed deeply, letting none of my apprehension show on my face as I walked down the final steps. I saw Lucius make a beeline for me, a crystal cut goblet in his hand.

"So good of you to join us," he whispered in my ear.

"Piss off," I spat, stomping hard on his toe. As I walked away, I had the satisfaction of tears come to the corner of his eyes when he rushed to greet the newest guests.

I walked to the table of gifts, which I noticed was piled extra high this year. Dropping my small box on it with a thump, an audible snarl sounded from the thing. Everyone quieted and looked at me for a minute before going back to their conversations.

Shit.

I walked around the room, making polite but terse conversation with those who I saw on the way to the table with the drinks. I picked up a glass of vodka and drank it with one gulp. This was going to be a long night…

Around midnight, after doing nothing but talking about pointless shit with people I didn't care about, I noticed something. The Dark Lord had turned and walked in the direction of me, waving off his posse. I grabbed another glass of vodka and threw it back.

Holy fucking shit fucks.

The Dark Lord came to stand beside me at the table.

"Having a good night?" he asked politely, doing the eyebrows thing.

Fuck.

"Yes, it has been quite enjoyable," I answered.

Suddenly a high-pitched shrieking laugh echoed across the room. It was Narcissa.

Good God! It's only midnight and she's losing it. Good thing she's being watched Lucius, or she would give any male that asked her a night to remember.

The talking resumed as quickly as it had stopped.

"That's good," said the Dark Lord, obviously quite happy to make idle chatter.

"It is very delightful," I answered, surveying the crowd. I didn't notice the He stepped behind me until he whispered in my ear.

"Come be delightful upstairs," He murmured into my ear.

Oh Shit.

I turned to face him, "Of course, my Lord."

"Good," He said smiling.

This could not get any worse. I do NOT want to screw some bald snake guy!

I followed him upstairs, and into my room.

Did He not have a better plan than in my room?

I giggled. The four glasses of vodka were taking their toll.

I sat down my bed, noticing he did the same. I tried to relax myself, preparing for what would come next.

But it never did. The Dark Lord reached in his robes and drew out what looked like a small cup.

"This," He said, "is important. Put it in your vault at Gringotts Bank and do not let it get stolen. Many things rely upon this. Guard it with your life."

"Yes, my Lord," I answered, bowing my head.

Well, that was easier than I thought.

"Good," the Dark Lord sighed, sounding relieved.

He walked out of my room, leaving me holding the cup. I turned it around in my hands, the metal gleaming up at me. It had a crest on one side, one with a "h" and a badger. It was Hufflepuff! I wondered what the Dark Lord would want with such a thing when I heard my sister's deranged laugh coming from downstairs.

Better see what she's doing now, I thought as I hid the cup under my clothes and walked back downstairs…

The next morning I was sitting at the dining room table with a cup of hot chocolate. I had a terrible head ache from the vodka, but at least I couldn't remember everything in vivid detail. Narcissa was still up in her room with Lucius. I shuddered at the mental picture. After I had come down from my room, I found out that Narcissa was plastered. Not just plastered. Really plastered. So plastered in fact, that somewhere in that fucking stupid brain of hers, she decided to try and have at it with Lucius in plain view of everyone. I missed most of it, luckily, but Goyle found great fun in telling me every little infuriatingly gross detail.

At least most of the party went okay…

Of course, after that, Narcissa became into the one thing she had been known as at school: whor. Apparently she had gone anywhere from first to third base with half the men at the party. And to top it all off, she couldn't remember a thing. Not that Lucius minded. Narcissa was so slutty by the end of the night, Lucius could hardly lock the door before she threw herself at him. How do I know this? Because as soon as the guests left, Narcissa and Lucius went to their chambers. I went to bed too, shortly after them. But no, I couldn't sleep because they were so fucking loud! It surpassed loudness! Until dawn I was kept awake by moaning from the next doors bedroom.

So here I am, with a cup of hot chocolate and a throbbing headache. All so Lucius could have some fun with my fucking plastered sister. Shit. Absolute fucking shit.

And then there's that cup. I will have to go to Diagon Alley, sooner or later, and drop that off. It's just some stupid old cup… What use could the Dark Lord have with it?