Characters:

Written for the Scavenger Hunt #C8. write about a character's birthday

Written for the Royalty Competition #8. Accio

Written for the Greek Mythology Competition #7. Dionysus – Write about a celebration

Written for the Pirate Battle Challene #1. DracoPansy

Written for the if you dare Challene #273. Piece of cake

Words: 918

Remember the little things to make a friendship last forever

"I want a tree foot long essay on the effects of the belladonna extract in a calming draught. You have until Monday to complete your paper. Class dismissed." Professor Snape finished Friday's last lesson and the remaining students in the room packed their stuff as fast as they possibly could. After all the potions Master might come to the idea of adding yet another task to their already immensely huge pile of homework, and no one would want their weekend shortened with more homework than necessary.

Once everything was back in her bag, Pansy hurried out of the room and ran after her friend.

"Draco!" She screamed, trying to get his attention. "Wait."

Slowly the other third year Slytherin turned around and looked at the girl with one eyebrow raised.

"What?"

Pansy took a deep breath. She would never admit it, but she was nervous about asking him what she was about to ask. "Well you see, today's a special day for me and I was wondering if you possibly have the time to take a short walk around the lake with m – "

"I'm sorry Pansy," Draco interrupted her and Pansy's face fell instantly. "But I really am in a hurry right now."

This said, the young Slytherin waved his goodbye to his friend and ran away.

Pansy's eyes started to tear up. She knew that she wasn't very popular amongst the other third years – especially the Gryffindors, though who wants to be friends with them? But she had at least expected her fellow Slytherin friends, most of all her best friend Draco, to remember her birthday! All day long she had waited for someone to approach or say something to her, but apart from a half-heated "What's that supposed to mean?" during Transfiguration, no one has found the time to just talk to her. Everyone seemed to be distracted and occupied by something entirely else, even now, after classes had ended.

A lonely tear threatened to fall down her face, but she quickly wiped it away; after all she had a reputation to uphold.

She knew that her parents didn't bother sending her something. Like the years before, she wouldn't receive anything from them. She never did. Her parents both held high ranks in the ministry of magic, and they spent more time thinking about work related things than about their own daughter. But Pansy was used to that. However the fact that all her friends, the people Pansy considered family, hadn't wasted a thought about her, truly broke her heart.

With her head bowed in disappointment and a feeling of utter loneliness she made her way back to the Slytherin common room. Well, at least, there's still chocolate, Pansy thought sadly and crawled through the entrance.

However, before she could decide, what kind of chocolate would suit her mood on such a miserable birthday like this, a bunch of confetti exploded in front of her and a chorus of "SURPRISE!" and "HAPPY BIRHTDAY!"s were shouted from all over the common room.

Pansy couldn't believe it. There they were; all of her friends and fellow housemates were standing around a little table, that was completely overloaded with presents!

She was overwhelmed with emotions. Relieve and happiness floated through her and this time she really couldn't stop the tears that started running down her cheeks.

Her heart started beating even stronger when she saw Draco stepping out of the little crowd. He came toward her and put both his arms around her; hugging her tightly. "Happy birthday, Pans." he whispered into her ear. "You didn't really think we'd forget your birthday, did you?"

Pansy just shook her head. To her frustration, the tears wouldn't stop flowing down her cheeks. But this time they were happy tears. So he had remembered her birthday after all!

"We wanted the celebration to be a surprise." Draco continued, waved towards the group of people and brought a delighted Pansy to her present table. "We just had to make sure we had enough time to set everything up."

Pansy, who really wasn't out of words very often, didn't know what to say. "I – I- Thank you!" she finally stammered, "Thank you all so much. This is more than I could have ever wished for."

And with that, all her friends started cheering and hugging her, handing her presents and soon they all started to sing "Happy birthday".

Pansy enjoyed this day more than she had ever enjoyed a birthday and just when she was about to open yet another present, someone from the back row started screaming.

"Merlin, Draco! Where the hell is the bloody cake?!"

Everyone turned to look at Draco. His eyes widened and he touched his head, cursing.

"There is cake?" Pansy asked gleefully.

The blonde boy nodded. "Accio cake." Draco said quickly, and a couple of seconds later, a giant layer cake flew down the stairs into the common room and landed on an empty table next to Pansy. It was decorated with various item and held in the colours green and silver. On top of that, someone – probably Draco himself – had written her name on it, in big white shining letters.

Draco quickly cut out the first piece of cake and handed it to Pansy, blushing a deep crimson. "Here. I know you love chocolate."

Filled with happiness, Pansy took the piece, but before she started to eat it, she quickly gave Draco bone-crashing hug. "Thank you Draco," she whispered, her voice full of emotion. "Thank you for remembering."