The teens are still talking - this time about the different Quidditch Teams and their chances of winning - drinking lemonade, and making more card decks to add to the castle when there's a series of knocks and a familiar voice asks "Bloom, are you in here? May I come in?" They all recognize that voice - Dumbledore.

Most of the Slytherins are expecting her to invite them right in and put a damper on the mood - to their surprise, she half-angrily, half irritatedly says "No, Professor, you may not come in."

Theodore whistles lowly, and says "Not so much his golden girl anymore, are you?"

Bloom snorts, and says "I am not, never have been, and never will be 'his girl' - there are exactly three people and an owl that can make that claim, and Albus Percieval Wulfric Brian Dumbledore is not one of them. He's called me that since our first conversation in year one, despite the fact that I never asked him to nor did I know him at all, and he's never stopped despite my growing dislike for the man."

Dumbledore listens as Bloom keeps talking to her yearmates, feeling a pit of dread and frustration growing in his stomach - she's not making fence-mending easy, in fact she's currently saying that there are no fences left to mend in her opinion. He starts when Sirius clears his throat behind him, suddenly appearing when Dumbledore was sure he was all the way across the area not a minute before.

"Albus." Sirius gives him a cool once-over, then asks "Enjoying the party?"

Dumbledore nods, and says "Indeed. Thank you for inviting me, Sirius. I was hoping to speak to Bloom, but it would appear she's…quite put-out with me at the moment. Perhaps you, as her Guardian, could-"

Sirius' laugh makes Dumbledore stop talking, and he says "I may be Bloom's Magical Guardian, but she has her own mind and knows how to use it. If she's put it to avoiding you, you will simply have to resign yourself to the fact that she wants nothing more to do with you."

He pokes his head in the Gazebo, and says "I'm starting the seating for opening presents, everyone. I'd get over there soon." He smirks, and adds "Especially the birthday-girl."

There's a series of complaints about the sudden heat, even as Bloom heads out with a smile so big its threatening to actually split her face in two, and they all head out - with Ron commenting how it's suddenly cooler outside in the July heat than inside with the heat Bloom's giving off.

Once everyone gets seated, Bloom's eyes go huge in her head at the sight of the pile of gifts people got for her. Some of them, from people that don't know her that well, include things like Wand cleaning kids and Broom Maintenance kits. Those ones are politely thanked for, and put carefully to the side.

Others, from people that do know her a bit, are stuff like books on new spells for her to learn. This would include the gifts from the Professors. A book on Animagi, from McGonagall. A book detailing the IDC rules and banned spells - a book on Dueling, so likely from Flitwick. A recipe book of sorts for advanced potions - Snape, definitely. These are stacked up to be read cover to cover - and possibly tried out, from the gleam in Bloom's eyes.

Neville got her a pot, with a note that he'd put a Plumeria in it later.

Molly and Arthur gave her a knitted blanket, made in a deep blue wool with fire-orange designs all through it.

The Malfoys got her a few new school robes, with a hidden note saying that she and Draco are heading to Paris for an afternoon - Bloom just grins and folds the note up carefully.

Hermione's gift is two books on Transmutation and Charms - the first one nearly has Bloom's eyes popping out of her head, and Draco just knows she's going to be pouring through that book.

Ron got her a book on Defensive and Healing spells, and the Twins' gift has the entire table roaring in laughter except for the professors. 'The Silly Wizard's list of Mildly Irritating to Severely Annoying Jinxes, Hexes, and Legal Curses' is probably a book they have nightmares about.

Sirius hands Bloom a small box, which turns out to be a pendant with the Black crest on it - every Pureblood recognizes it instantly, it means attacking Bloom will invite the full wrath of the Black family. It's got protective spells, mostly designed to protect a lady's virtue since they were made centuries ago, and no Pureblood with half a brain would cross her intentionally.

The last box - a large one that Sirius floats away from the table - is one Bloom's been eying for a good five minutes. Along with several guests, wondering what it could possibly be.

Bloom happily tears away at the wrapping paper, then magically shreds the box without even thinking about it…only to gasp in shock at the sight of a shrunken motorcycle with a side-carriage. "I remember this…"

Sirius blinks, and asks "You do?! You were a year old!"

Bloom shrugs, and says "I dream of it sometimes. You were working on it…the engine backfired." She laughs and adds "There was soot all over your face!"

Sirius gapes, then starts laughing and says "You were sitting in the carriage, started laughing and clapping your hands! I didn't think you'd have any recollection of that!"

Bloom shrugs, then says "I dream of stuff like that. I'm pretty sure I was introduced to Ron to at some point back then." Bloom shrugs, enlarging the bike to see it better.

Molly and Arthur are staring at her in utter shock, as that absolutely happened and they didn't think for a minute that she had any idea of that, but Dumbledore says "Sirius, I don't think it's a good idea for Bloom to have that machine. It's much too dangerous."

Sirius immediately fixes the older man with a cold look, but Bloom beats him to any kind of reply by saying "Making me participate in the Tournament was dangerous. Letting Dementors be on school grounds was dangerous. Letting a Basilisk roam the school pipes and attack people was dangerous. Having a three-headed dog trapped in a room accessible by a moving staircase that could land students there by accident was dangerous. Telling students aged eleven to seventeen exactly where said three-headed dog was under the pretense of warning them not to go there was dangerous, reckless, and bloody well idiotic. Bloody hell, having two rival houses share classes together at Hogwarts when they're at odds as much as Gryffindor and Slytherin are these days is dangerous as a potion gone wrong. Yet, somehow, your only concerned with the fact that I've now got a flying motorcycle from my Godfather, who helped make it and spelled it so you couldn't fall off it if you tried to jump off?"

Dumbledore opens and closes his mouth like a goldfish for a minute, and Sirius smirks at Bloom as he says "Go cut your cake, Bloom. Professor Dumbledore and I need to have a word in private."

Bloom nods, then stops and stares in shock at the cake. It's three tiers, and looks amazing.

Best. Birthday. EVER.

Most everybody else is either too caught up in the details of how a fifteen-year-old can do such controlled wandless, wordless magic as what Bloom just demonstrated on a whim or the brewing argument and growing rift between Dumbledore and his former 'Golden girl' to notice Bloom's expression.


Everybody's eating cake and enjoying themselves - except for Dumbledore, who's looking particularly put-out after his 'word in private' with Sirius - when suddenly a couple of Dementors appear floating towards everyone.

Most people scream and run, but Bloom yells "Expecto Patronum!" A silver dragon explodes out of her wand, driving the Dementors away. Most everyone's staring at Bloom in utter shock at the sight of her so casually driving the Dementors away, but she just shrugs and asks "Anybody want another piece of cake?" Even so, she's gone paler than usual and the cheerfulness in her voice sounds forced now.

Daphne Greengrass walks over as she heads to the table full of drinks, and casually asks "You can make a corporeal Patronus? That's supposed to be incredibly difficult!"

Bloom shrugs, and says "I can. Professor Lupin taught me. Seeing as I was more affected by the Dementors than most, he taught me how to get rid of them. Though," she snorts derisively, "I wasn't actually able to do the Charm until the end of that year. Let's get some lemonade."

The first drink, she knocks back at once - swallows it all in one gulp. The second she sips at and fidgets with the edge of her sleeve - the Dementors affected her, quite a bit, and she's twitchy now. The Howler that gets delivered makes literally everyone go still from utter disbelief - for using the Patronus Charm outside of school grounds…Bloom's been expelled from Hogwarts.

The mood of the party is irreversibly shattered, at that point. Including - no, especially - Bloom's utter fury at the ridiculousness of the situation.


AN: Hey, everyone! I know, I'm a day late again - I swear there's a good reason, though! All the State Universities have canceled classes for two weeks after Spring Break is over! Rather, they've all been put online for those two weeks. I spent the whole day going back and forth between going down and grabbing all my stuff or heading back and act like nothing's wrong! I'm telling everyone now, its crazy. Plus, I've got a few projects to do - but, that's college life for you.

Anyway, we're finally getting to Book five now! The Dementors have made their appearance, and the ball is rolling! The last review I got had some suggestions for alternate names for the DA - thank you so much InkCatWarrior! - and I thought of 'Guardians of Hogwarts' and 'Protectors of Hogwarts' - who likes what? I can also substitute 'Defenders' in there, if anyone likes that idea.

Anyway, enjoy! More chapters coming soon! Please review!