A/n: Ahhh. A longer chapter. Well, I won't ruin anything. I hope you enjoy reading this chapter as much I loved writing it.
Let me know how the chapter was.
pLeasEE!
Seriously, the review section is there for a reason. Go ahead, please, do sOMetHing.
On with the show
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Hint/Tip: When the softer music starts (you'll when it does), I'd recommend listening to 'Sunkissed'. To just give you an idea.
Chapter 13
After convincing herself to go back to her morning exercise routine, mostly because she felt that staying at Hogwarts was definitely going to put on a couple of kilograms on her body, which she had worked really hard on. Also because the quidditch trials were coming up, and she wanted to get back up to date with her body.
So when she got up on the 15th of September at 5:30 in the morning, when the sun was yet to rise, she had no idea what was about to hit her in the face.
XXX
For someone who had woken up at 4 in the morning, Harry was fashioning a rather terrifying and unearthly smile as he readied himself to leave his dorm. It was even worse when he turned to the mirror to brush his teeth, the smile almost seemed maniacal.
Putting on some shorts and a jacket, he left the dorm with his firebolt and a backpack in hand.
He first started with the common room, putting his broom down, Harry reached into his rather normally seeming sized bag and pulled out different types of confetti and banners, that no way could have normally fitted in that bag. As silently as he could, he set everything up that was required, and with much difficulty and the help of his wand, pulled out the ten feet tall stuffed brown bear that had laid there for the past three weeks.
Stepping back, he took a look at his work that he was extremely proud of, and with a few incantations and wand movements, hid them in thin air.
Harry got out of the common room, again, as silently as he could, mounted his broom just after the door to the common room closed behind him, and set up all the necessary and pre-planned decorations he had in mind throughout the way.
Finally reaching the main grounds, where he was sure Cecilia had started jogging every morning, and there too, he set up the decorations which were to reveal themselves when Cece was to come down.
Taking a look at his watch, he made a run for the common room, as it was nearly 5:45. Then remembering he had a broom, he rode it at the speed of wind towards the Gryffindor tower.
Putting on his invisibility cloak, he entered the common room, settling himself in a corner that was going to be unnoticed after the decorations revealed themselves.
XXX
After exactly 34 seconds of Harry settling in the corner of the common room, Cecilia descended down the stairs, not completely aware of her surroundings as she still tried to rub the sleep off her eyes.
But, when her left foot hit the third last step on the staircase, she was suddenly alarmed and showered with a million pieces of brightly coloured paper, which she recognised to be confetti. Upon closer inspection of the tiny bits of the piece of paper that got stuck in her hair, she found out that the tiny little orange bit fashioned the face of her one best friend with a cheeky smile.
Who else?
Of course, it is Harry Freaking Potter. Who the fuck else?
Shaking her head, when she raised her eyes, she was hit in the face with another surprise. The entire common room was now covered in her childhood photos, even some photos from her present. Not necessarily sticking anywhere, but floating through the air. Unable to hold it in, her face broke into a huge smile. She was definite that Harry was here somewhere, how could he miss a moment like this, she just wasn't sure from where.
So she just spoke to the seemingly empty room, "Thank you, you huge dork!"
There were photos and portraits from when she didn't even remember being shot.
There was a one when they were 5, and had spaghetti sauce all over their face.
Or the one with the three of them, sharing a single nimbus as they smiled at aunt Lily.
Even the one, where Harry, Cecilia and Ron were cuddled against each other under a blanket as they watched a horror movie.
And an eight-year-old her, where she was refusing Harry for her hand in marriage, and you could see the glum look on Harry's face.
Or where she and Ron were licking through a single ice lolly. Even together, they weren't able to finish that tiny little red cherry.
There were too many photos to even count, her eyes flicked through all of them briefly but the one that really caught her eye was floating somewhere in the back. She raised her finger and that particular photo came floating towards her as if being summoned.
This picture, this was the moment when Harry had found out that he loved her.
They were 7. Playing. In the garden. When Cecilia had, for the first time, voiced out the fact that she wanted to be a quidditch player.
And Harry had said, "Well, if you want to be a real quidditch player, you'd require a real broom"
Just after saying that, he had run for his dad's broom shed and brought out two nimbus's. One that Cecilia was quite inadept to ride. She had gotten on the broom, zoomed in the air, without knowing what she was doing, but after losing balance, started to fall.
Harry, with his quick brain, and even quicker reflexes, got on a broom himself and saved her a drop of almost a hundred feet.
That was the moment when either Harry and Cecilia had their very first kiss. A real kiss, when they had landed. It wasn't really much, or maybe because they couldn't tell, as they were just seven, but Cecilia had always remembered that.
Smiling at the fond memory, she tucked the photograph neatly in the back pocket of her shorts. Looking ahead, she was once again hit with another one of Harry's doings.
In the corner of the common room, near the fireplace, there sat a huge brown bear, stuffed of course, but it was humungous enough to scare the bejesus out of anyone, which obviously elicited a gasp from Cecilia, "Good lord! That is huge!"
As if triggered, the inanimate bear suddenly came to life, and with a thud that was soft and hard at the same time, jumped 180 degrees. Funnily enough, there was something emblazoned in gold on the bear's back.
In the darkroom, the flames reflected off the golden font, giving it a look as if it was on fire. It readout, "Title of your sex tape!"
Allowing herself a chuckle, she once again shook her head, thinking out loud, "Harry James Freaking Potter! You are an idiot."
Harry smiled to himself, the cloak hiding his self satisfied smug look and blinding smile. Cece was exiting the room and he tried to lightly follow her out of the common room without getting noticed.
She knew it wasn't the end of it. Cecilia was 100.3 per cent sure, that the moment she is going to walk out of this room, there were going to be even more ridiculously charming surprises waiting for her. And, indeed, she was correct.
The whole way that she walked down the stairs, she was showered with rose petals and some other exotic flowers mixed in that she didn't recognise. The hallways were laced with streamers and banners. Filch was going to have a hell of a day.
The moment she stepped out in the lawns and gardens, she could see the huge banner with her face on it floating in the air above the quidditch field. In fact, it was so big, that you could clearly see each and every detail of the photo from the main doors of the castle.
Hell of a day indeed.
XXX
On the 15th of September, when the population of Hogwarts woke up, indeed each and every person saw the face of Cecilia French the first thing in the morning when they peeked out of their windows.
And indeed the whole school knew that there was definitely something special because something like this could only be pulled off by one student who wasn't going to get in trouble for something like this. And a collective groan left each and every student and staff's mouth as the moment they left their rooms or common room, they were greeted with confetti all over the school.
McGonagall was highly amused, as she remembered a particular Potter doing the exact same thing in his seventh year for a particular black haired Black. But had to keep a straight face when her eyes caught up to the young Potter in the second period.
Sometime after lunch, a rumour was going around, including the year's largest party at Hogwarts in the come and go room. Indeed there was a party and not just any party… but... What did you expect?
Though initially planned as a not-so-large party with just maybe 200 or 300 students, finally ended up as a full-blown bash almost accounting for 800 students and even most of the staff. And, maybe, no one wondered why the fruit punch was suddenly making people enjoy the party to its fullest. Point is, no one questioned it!
Luckily the party was in the come-and-go room, which was easily fitting in all the guests. Cecilia had feared something like this might be happening, and she basked in all the attention that she was being handed on a silver plate.
In all the jostle and hurrah, she might have forgotten about a little bucktoothed, frizzy-haired girl that she had shared the past two weeks with at Hogwarts. Who was now sitting in the corner, drinking, punch, probably spiked, alone?
So when Potter found her sitting near the bar, his heart broke into two, but putting on a smiley face, he swaggered over to her, almost sliding halfway into the bar, trying to act cool.
"'Mione! What are you doing here? Don't you like the party? I thought you'd love it."
He cringed inside, if anything, Hermione hated parties, too bad Harry threw the best of them.
She raised her eyes to match his flirty gaze with one of her stern ones, "No! In fact, I was just gonna go to bed."
He tilted his head, as if confused, "We have no classes tomorrow, Granger. And even if we did," He looked to where Dumbledore was pouring something mysterious in McGonagall's and Severus' drink, "I don't think any professor would be sober enough to show up." To which Hermione gave no indication of hearing, but a small laugh elicited from her, throwing her away.
Getting cocky, he bends his head to look her in the eye, which eventually resulted in her laughing out loud, "Ah, there is my Granger."
He paid no attention to what he had just said, but Hermione's face almost turned beet. Pulling at her arm, he said, "Come on."
Hermione just pulled back, uncertain, "Where?"
"To dance of course.", he said among with one of his charming smiles.
Hermione almost would have said no. Almost.
She took his offered arm, making Harry smile with too much delight. He took her to the centre of the stage, where she could see Cecilia dancing with The Weasley Twins, both of them. Greeting them once, he pulled her even deeper into the crowd, near to where the muggle speaker was banging music through the entire room, which was now converted into a hall. He quickly whispered something in Murphy's ear, the guy who was handling the speakers and the music.
Hermione couldn't hear what he said, but when he turned back to her, his smile was nearly too wide. Just getting enough into the crowd, he pulled her closer, making her gasp, as the music changed from an upbeat roar to a softer, more romantic? Music. Hermione was suddenly thrown back to last year, when Harry held her just like this, probably a bit softly, but just the same.
This boy. Right here, has no idea what he does to my poor soul.
Almost everything was the same, and upon listening closely, she finally figured out that it was the same song that had been playing when they had danced last year in the yule ball. The only difference was, Harry's face was a criss-cross of flashing coloured lights which made him look even more alive. And like last year, instead of standing flush together, Harry was looking at her which made her practically heat up, but with all that she had in her, she maintained eye contact.
At some point, Cho Chang was standing near them, asking Harry for a dance, which he didn't really pay no attention to. He really couldn't. It wasn't really his fault, how could he? She eventually left.
After the fourth song finished, not that she was counting it. Harry had to leave. Just when he could see him leaning a bit in, for totally unrelated reasons, of course, Ron came sprinting towards them, along with the twins and Cecilia and hoisted him up on their shoulders running around the hall like idiots.
I swear to god! FFFFFF… frick you Ronald Weasley. He almost did it! You idiot!
As if listening in on her thoughts, Cecilia turned over her shoulder and winked at her with a cocky smile.
XXX
The day had ended at 2:15 AM with Harry giving Cecilia the best gift she had ever received. It was a diamond necklace with her face cut in it, in the middle, out of the diamond.
She and the rest of the Gryffindors were hushedly making their way to the Gryffindor tower, trying not to get caught by Umbitch and her pet squib. All the girls gawked and balled their ayes at Cecilia's necklace, while the boys all congratulated and patted Harry on his back, probably thinking that they are dating.
XXX
Cecilia was sitting on her bed, sleepily looking around the room as her dorm-mates went about their night routines at 2:30 in the morning. She was pretty content and happy with how the day had played out. She had gotten several gifts from family and Uncle James, Uncle Sirius, Uncle Remus, Aunt Lily and several other people she knew back from America, and right now they lay in a heap near her bed. She'll have to remember to write them all a letter to each and everyone in the morning if she was cured enough from the killing hangover she was going to get.
Though Hermione hadn't bought her a gift, probably because she didn't tell anyone that it was her birthday, but instead, she did give her a last-minute pair of earrings, that Harry bought (presumably) that she really liked and were currently laying on her bedside table. Sirius had probably sent her a book, Remus perhaps chocolate, Aunt Lily a dress or some jewellery, Uncle James she couldn't even guess. She was surprised her dad even had time to pick out some gift for her, he probably asked one of his assistants to pick out something hideously girly. Mum, some of her beauty products from her company, perhaps the same kit she got last year, and the year before that, or the year before that. She's just going to hand it out to Lavender or Parvati.
The only gift that made her furious was from a certain blond-haired guy, she knew back from America. Four months. No answer to her letters? But, looky here, he remembered her birthday. She shoved it in her bedside drawer, deeper somewhere so that she wouldn't blast from all the fumes she was sure she was emitting.
She would have called this the best- no, second-best birthday ever. Being 16 was nice.
XXX
Since we are in the month of September, how can we forget about Hermione's birthday, which comes a week later than Cece's.
So lets' jump forward to the 22nd of September.
Once again, let's start this with Harry.
XXX
Just another Saturdady, let's get through this and we've got another weekend ahead of us, haven't we?
I swear to God, beds seem definitely more comfortable on Fridays and Mondays.
I get out of my bed, trying to walk past Ron, who was slouching on the floor, he almost looked dead, and into the shower. It's a pretty bland and dry day, or so I can see outside of the window in the bathroom, just another Friday to get past. Nothing happening.
Harry takes up a nice 20 minutes in the shower. Shower, brushing his teeth, shaving the stubble that has been growing for the past week, he liked a clean shave, flossing, and finally, a crapload of perfume that was gonna be no help after a nice quidditch routine.
Being captain of the Gryffindor team was possibly the best thing that happened this year, but that also accounted for holding trials, and he really was in no mood to watch a couple of twelve years make a fool of themselves on a broom taller than them. But, again, it wasn't their fault they couldn't be better than the youngest seeker in the century.
Putting on his quidditch undershirt and pants, he picked up the rest of the uniform and stuffed it in his kit that was lying hazardously under his bed. Hitting Ron on his head once, he finally managed to wake the bloody bugger up, "Pick up your fat arse off the floor, trials are today."
In his half-asleep state, with his head under the bed, Ron spoke up, "What's the point, I never get picked?"
"Well, I'm the captain now, you might have thick chances of getting in this year. Come on!"
Ron elicited a sound somewhere near the lines of, "Mmblerghh."
"Atta' Boy. Now get up and get dressed, trials start in an hour."
With that, he was out of the dorm, ready to watch some kids fall on their arses…. After an hour.
XXX
Hermione woke up with great expectations. The sun was not out yet, and wouldn't probably be out till noon if the weather was anything to go by.
She bid Cecilia a good morning when she left for her morning jog. She too hasn't told anyone that it was her birthday. Lavender and Parvati were probably aware, but she knew they weren't going to bother wishing her, she wanted Harry to be the first person to wish her, as stupid as that sound.
With a consumed expression, she descended the stairs to settle down in her usual studying spot in the common room.
Luckily for her, Harry chose the exact same moment to come to walk out of his own dorm. Her face tried to hide an incoming smile wider than Professor Sprout's waist, but she swallowed it down, and instead replaced it with a sweet morning smile.
"Good Morning, Harry!", she chirped.
Harry looked up from his shoes to see Hermione descending the girl's dormitory, books ready in hand, "Morning 'Mione! A bit late of you to study innit?" He taunted with a cheeky smile.
"Yes well, I woke up late. Where are you headed to?"
"Um, a morning exercise. Gotta bronze those rock hard abs, you know.", Suddenly an image of a very half-naked Harry floated through from Hermione's mind, which she quickly shook away, trying not to let the blush creep up her neck, "I have quidditch trials later. Hey, maybe you could drop by, you know, light up my boring morning."
Hermione, once again, tried to hold down the blush that was excited to creep up her neck, instead, just found her voice, and said, "Sure, I'll be there."
With a dramatic bow and one of his trademark smiles, Harry left the common room.
Hmm? That was odd. Harry couldn't possibly forget my birthday. He never did in the past.
Well, maybe it was a charade, perhaps he was just planning a surprise, just like he did for Cecilia.
Right, maybe just like Cecilia.
XXX
A/n: Sorry I am gonna have to cut the chapter here. I didn't want two birthdays in the same chapter.
But don't worry, the next chapter is going to be epic, and I'm hoping to probably make you cry. I mean, I hope I do…
Anyway, hold onto the hope the next chapter is gonna come out soon, and leave a review to let me know how you are liking the story so far.
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Hearts, cookies and rainbows
Cece
:)