"Ron, did you ask Rosie what she wants to do for her birthday?"

"Yes, but we could've guessed, because it's the same thing as last year. Go to a Muggle bookshop, followed by a magical one."

"And a party? What about a party?"

"Said she didn't mind, love."

"Oh, I wish she was more excited about it. She always likes going to her cousins' birthdays!"

"I think she's worried that if she has a party, she won't be allowed to spend as much money on books."

"How many did she ask for this time?"

"Ten of each. Thought it was going to be worse, actually. Hugo's bike cost a lot more than that and he hasn't used it in ages."

"I don't think it's for lack of trying, Ron. Your dad likes to try it out when he comes over. I think he might've tried to, erm, improve it for him."

"Bloody hell, not again."

"Hugo likes it, he just can't cycle it into the village when it's whistling and shooting red sparks."

"Alright, I'll try and fix it tomorrow then… So we'll just have to plan Rose's birthday ourselves, I suppose?"

"Yes. Oh! I have an idea – what if we plan a surprise costume party? Where everyone has to dress up as their favourite character from a book?"

"Hermione, that's brilliant! She'll love it! But… if it's a surprise, how will she know to dress up?"

"She can run back upstairs and change when everyone gets here. I have the perfect costume for her! We can dress up as a family!"

"Hang on, hang on! I don't think adults need to get involved…"

"Nonsense, she'll be so excited if we join in too. She's reading Alice in Wonderland again, so we can choose characters from that. I'll be the Queen of Hearts, you can be the Mad Hatter. I'll make Rose an Alice dress, Hugo can be the White Rabbit and Crooks, poor old thing, can be the Cheshire Cat!"

"The Mad who?"

"Hatter, Ron. A person who makes hats."

"See, now why would a person write about hats? Muggle books are barmy!"

"It's fiction, it's allowed to be a little strange."

"Nobody else will know who we're supposed to be!"

"Albus will, we gave him copy of the book as part of his Christmas gift. And Luna's eldest is as bad as Rose for reading."

"But –"

"It will make her happy, Ron."

"… Alright."

"This is going to be so much fun to plan! We'll have a tea party theme, of course. And it can be your job to make sure everyone keeps the secret, so that Rose will be properly surprised."

"I'll warn everyone, but you can't blame me if James lords it over her and it gets out somehow."

"Ginny won't let him. Gosh, we only have two weeks to prepare; I'll start making the invitations now! Do you think we could conjure a maze on the beach?"

"A maze? A real one? But – what for?"

"Ron, I think you're going to have to read the book."

"Fine, I'll read it, but you have to be the one to tell Hugo he'll be wearing a rabbit costume!"

"Oh blast, I feel a bribe coming on…"