Part 11

Most people now hated Harry. Even his best friend Ron hated him. They thought he was an attention seeking brat, even Sian Niamh Levi and Rachel did but I felt really sorry for him. I sat next to him in history of magic and he told me he would never put his name in the cup. He was convinced someone was out to get him. I try to comfort Harry as much as possible but Ron seemed to be hanging around with me Fred and George even more now so there wasn't much I could do. Ron had been extremely friendly towards me and we did have a laugh but I could tell he was missing Harry.

It was the 8th of November when the first snow fell, my birthday. I woke up to find a small pile of presents at the end of my bed. The first one was from Harry, he had bought me a mini replica of quidditch which was enclosed in a snow globe, it was amazing because all of the players moved and there was an actual game going on. Ron had bought me a pot of colour changing ink which changed depending on your mood, Hermione bought me a book called Bella belles beauty book of beauty which had loads of little spells to help your looks and appearance. Fred and George had bought me a massive box of bertie botts every flavour beans and a packet of puking pastels, their card was the best by far as every time you opened it you heard them singing happy birthday and some confetti exploded from the card. The last present was a massive package from my family. My sisters had sent me new makeup saying it might come in handy, my grandparents had sent me some money telling me to buy something nice and my parents had sent me a beautiful red floor length dress. It had a one strap across the shoulder which was covered in red flowers and the dress had sparkles throughout. It was beautiful. I was the first one to wake in the dorm so I went to the bathroom and tried it on. It fitted perfectly go in all the right places; I felt like a princess when I wore it but I couldn't help but wonder why my parents would send me such a beautiful dress in Hogwarts, all of that was answered when I read there card.

Dear Justine

Happy Happy Birthday! Have an amazing day! I hope you like the dress; it might come in handy sooner than you think.

Lots of love

Mum and Dad xxx

What were they talking about? I wondered whilst I took of the dress and changed into my school robes. Hermione was the second one to wake; she wished me a happy birthday, I thanked her for the book and we walked down to breakfast together. I was greeted by my fellow house member and it seemed like a good day. I walked out of the hall and I was greeted by Rachel, Levi, Sian and Niamh who gave me a joint present of a charm bracelet I had seen one time in Hogsmede ages ago. It was so pretty, There were four little charms on a thin golden bracelet which sparkled in the light.

"Do you like it?" Rachel asked

"Like it? I love it! Thank you!" I said hugging them all "I have a feeling today is going to be a good day!"

"Let's hope so! Well we have charms first so see you later!" Levi said and they all walked off to charms whilst I headed to potions.

I defiantly did not expect anyone who wasn't Gryffindor to acknowledge the fact it was my birthday so when I sat down and saw a small box on my seat I was in complete shock. I had arrived very early so there was no one in the classroom. I looked around expecting someone to jump out of the cupboard but there was no one to be seen. I sat down and decided I best open the box before anyone got there. I gently undid the bow of the box and it transformed into a little letter.

"Happy Birthday Jones, my mother's birthday isn't until May. Draco x"

I laughed at the little note Draco had left but then when I opened the box I was in complete shock. It was the earring I had seen in hogsmede a few weeks ago. He must have gone and bought them when we were there when he said he was getting something for his mother but how did he have 70 galleons? Why would he spend that much money on me? He came walking through the door as I considered these thoughts

"Happy Birthday Jones" He said smiling as he took his seat

"Thank you so much" I said hugging him, he was warm and smelt good, I was surprised by my own reaction.

"I could get used to this" He said hugging me back.

"I'm an affectionate type of person" I said pulling away trying to hide the fact I was blushing .

"Thank you so much for the earrings! They are so beautiful!"

"You're welcome, I choose the colours red and green" He said, I took a closer looks at the earrings and they were sparkling red one second and green the other.

"I'll put them on right now" I said taking off my old studs and replacing them with my new earrings.

"They look lovely" Draco said taking out his essay and books

"But I can't help but wonder why you would want to get me such an expensive present?" I said honestly

"You can't put a price on beauty" He said, I was melting inside.

We were making an antidote to common potions which was actually quite easy so me and Draco finished well before anyone else. We spent the rest of the lesson talking about birthdays and the first task.

"I'm sure Krum will win, he's by far the best" Draco said

"I hope Harry or Cedric wins because I'm from Hogwarts" I sarcastically told him

"I shall not say anything then" We had made a deal that he wouldn't say anything against Harry, Hermione or the Weasleys as long as I didn't insult any Slytherins.

"Haha, I still can't get over how beautiful these earrings are thank you again, they will go with the dress my parents bought me" I said glancing at a mirror, I had told him about the dress.

"My father sent me dress robes the other day" Draco said

"It's so strange ... we will see soon enough" I said packing my bag as the bell had just rung "Thank you again! It was so thoughtful of you Draco, see you at dinner?"

"I'll see you at dinner birthday girl" He said walking out of the class

I actually couldn't believe what had just happened. Draco Malfoy had bought me a birthday present. Me. Little old muggle born me. This was madness. He must like me I mean you don't go and buy someone a £350 pair of earring for no reason ... or maybe he wants something from me. Or maybe he had spare change. I really didn't know. I sat down next to Rachel in ancient runes who noticed my earrings.

"Nice earrings Justine! Who got them for you?" She asked

"Oh a friend" I replied hoping she wouldn't ask any more questions

"Which one?" She asked much to my dismay

"Draco Malfoy" I said very quietly, thankfully at that moment there was a bang from someone's bag, must be a zonkos products so thankfully she didn't hear me.

"What did Ron get you?" Rachel asked, I couldn't detect her tone but she didn't sound happy or annoyed ... I couldn't put my finger on it.

"Colour changing ink, we saw it a while back when we went to hogsmede and I thought it was the coolest thing ever, it was nice of him to remember, I actually still need to thank him because I didn't see him at breakfast" I said honestly

"I'll tell him, don't worry" Rachel said smiling, but it wasn't her normal smile ... it was her fake smile ... something was defiantly up.

"Rachel what's up with you?" I asked her

"Oh nothing honestly" I gave her a look "Fine well it's just I think Ron likes you more than me"

"Oh bloody hell not Ron! I get enough of Sian about George! Me and Ron are in the same house and were really good friends, you know I stay there for a week every summer and we're just close, seriously I don't like him in that way" I said in a light tone

"I'm sorry, it was stupid to think I mean if it wasn't for you we wouldn't even be friends" Rachel said

"Hey don't worry about it okay? I mean from what I've heard you're on the same level as Sian now!" I said turning it so there wouldn't be awkwardness

"Who told you? Well yeah we did kiss, it was perfect Justine! I've been bursting to tell someone! We were in the owlery and we were both sending letters back home and it just felt right! It was so soft-"

"What is it with you girls wanting to tell me the intimate details?" I interrupted

"Sorry" Rachel's said shyly and blushed

Ancient Runes was fun enough. I mean it was nothing on potions but hey. We had history of magic next which was great because Harry and I talked none stop about quidditch and what had been reported about the quidditch league in the daily prophet, I also thanked him for his lovely present. I had transfiguration which was nice because Professor Mcgonagall wished me a happy birthday and then charms which I mastered in no time and gained 10 points for Gryffindor. I walked down to dinner and saw Ron with Fred and George.

"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday dear Justine, Happy birthday to you!" Fred and George sang in very loud voices so the whole school turned towards me, I sat down embarrassed.

"Thanks guys" I said sarcastically

"It's your birthday little one, you have to allow us to embarrass you" Fred said

I raised my eyebrows at little one "Thank you so much for my present, the pastels will defiantly come in handy!" I said taking a piece of chicken

"Thank for the ink Ron, it's amazing! I'm so glad you remembered!" I said hugging Ron

"Ahh don't worry, you deserve it, Happy Birthday!" He said hugging me back

"Today has been such a good day!" I said taking a bite of my chicken

"It should be!" George said

We sat chatting for a bit until I noticed Draco walk out on his own towards the courtyard so I excused myself and followed him outside. He was sitting on bench and there was no one else around.

"Hey, you alright?" I said taking a seat next to him

"Yeah I'm fine I just needed some fresh air ... and a hiding place from Parkinson" Draco told me

"Ahh well I cannot comment so I shall just sit here awkwardly" I said sitting there with a straight expression.

"She keeps annoying me, trying to kiss me" He said

"Ooo creep, all of my friends seem to be kissing someone or another, it's weird" I said turning towards the view of the lake "it's beautiful the lake isn't it? It just calms me"

"Jones?" Draco said, I turned to look at him

"Yes?" I answered

"I was ... well ... I ... maybe ..." Draco said losing his words

"What's wrong?" I asked him

"Nothing" and he lent in to kiss me but just as our lips were about to touch when the bell went which signalled end of dinner, our foreheads touched and I leant back.

"Bye Draco" I said

"See you Jones" He said

It was the best birthday ever.