Chapter six

Birthday

Time had creped by slowly, but steadily and before they knew it was 18 September.

After dealing with the Dementors live had settled down a bit. Voldemort wasn't seen anymore and The Federation had declared the planet, now named Dementora, forbidden area.

The five wizards and witches had gotten familiar enough with life on the ship to go along without any trouble. Every morning they trained, sometimes dueling, other times their weapons or other forms of more practical training. In the early afternoon Hermione usually forced them to make some homework, with Sirius helping. After that Ginny often went to study healing with Beverly for about an hour and the others played games, talked or, in mostly Hermione's case, studied some more.

They hadn't been making progress on determining which spell had been used to send them back. And the Starfleet crew hadn't been having any success either with the technological way.

***

Ginny wanted to turn around and go back to sleep, but the empty feeling in the room wouldn't leave her alone. So she opened her eyes and sat up. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and looked around.

Her eyes fell on Hermione, who was sitting on her bed with her knees pulled up, arm wrapped around it and supporting her chin on her hands. She was staring with open eyes in space, not seeing or moving anything.

Ginny pushed the blankets of her and pulled her robe on. Then she walked over to Hermione and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Mione?"

Hermione didn't react.

"Mione, what's wrong?" Ginny repeated.

This time Hermione reacted. She put her hands before her eyes and started to sob.

Ginny didn't say anything, but simply put her arms around the older girl before her and pulled her close. After a little while the sobs died down and Hermione pulled back a little.  

"Feeling better?"

"Yeah. Thanks, Ginny."

"So, what's wrong, Mione?"

"It's nothing."

"Mione, you wouldn't be crying so if there was nothing wrong…"

"That's something you're good at. You have woken already four or five time screaming for some nightmare." Hermione retorted.

Ginny was silent for a few moments. "I think we both should talk…"

"I was just thinking about my parents. Those few days' I was there last summer didn't really go well. We had several fights. Still about the fact I didn't want leave Hogwarts. They think that I want to get myself killed or something… Or that I am just plain stubborn. And tomor-row with my birthday, it brings back certain memories…"

***

"Harry… Harry."

Harry turned around and grumbled something.

"HARRY!"

"What!" Harry shot up in his bed.

"I need your help. The present isn't going as I want it." Ron exclaimed. 

Harry peered at the alarm clock. "Ron, it is 6.30. Does that really have to be done now?"

"Yes!"

"Ron, if we look at in one or two hours, it will still be there. So, get in your bed and go to sleep for an hour or so. Her birthday is tomorrow." Harry lay down again and pulled the blankets half over his head.

***

"My nightmares are about the kidnapping. Every time Voldemort succeeds in controlling me and I kill you, Ron, Harry, everyone I love… Every time I feel him in my head again." Ginny was silent for a moment.

"And every time is it like something dirty is sticking to me and I can't wash it away." she finished her story.

Hermione had listened silently. "We can't do much to keep the nightmares away…"

"Do you ever have nightmares, Mione?"

"Of course…" Hermione also was silent. "I often come home and see my parents. They lay on the ground, dead. Killed by the killing curse... The Dark Mark above the house… And on the wall there is writing. 'Mudblood, you're next.' it says. And suddenly my parents stand up and yell at me. That's my fault. Because I am witch… Because I stayed with Harry…"

***

"What didn't work, Ron?"

Harry had been woken up again an hour later and he had decided to get out of bed to help Ron. Together they bowed over the frail object before them.

Fifteen minutes later Harry sighed. "So, this will do it. And now… hide it."

Ron started wrapping the gift in some soft cloth. "You have your gift ready?"

"I bought it this summer already. It's safely wrapped in my trunk."

***

That day Ron, Harry, Ginny and Sirius had a short talk to see if everything was ready for the small party they had planned next day.

***

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY HERMIONE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!"

"What!" Hermione shot up in her bed, feeling around for her wand. Then she peered in the laughing faces of Ron, Harry, Ginny and Sirius. "Jesus guys, you scared me death."

"Happy birthday, Mione." Ron shook her hand and gave her a big sloppy kiss on the cheek.

The others wanted to follow his example, but Hermione held up her hand. "You go to the living room. I will get dressed and be there in a few minutes."

Ginny exited the room first, followed quickly by the males.

***

Hermione entered the room five minutes later. She was dressed in a long, deep purple skirt and a white long, flowing blouse. Her hair was styled in a bun in her neck. 

She looked around in surprise. The whole room was decorated with balloons and streamers. And there was a large banner, saying 'Congrats Hermione'. The four friends were sitting around the table, which was covered with several delicacies.

Ginny stood up, holding something behind her back. When she was close, she pulled it out from behind her back and placed it on Hermione's head. It was a large paper crown, with flowers, ribbons and a plaque, saying 'Hermione, 16 years'.

The second she had it on her head, the other four pulled out four party heads and placed them on their heads. Everyone sat down around the table and started to eat.

***

After breakfast they moved over to couch to give Hermione her presents. Everyone was stuffed and still wore their party heads.

Sirius was the first and handed her a long, flat package. It was wrapped in dark blue paper with a white bow. Hermione opened it and the package contained a sheath for her dagger.

Hermione turned it over and studied the embroidery on it. "Well, Sirius. It's clear you're a Gryffindor. But the embroidery is very fitting." The sheath was made of dark red leather and had a golden Kneazle embroidered on it.

Then Harry followed. He congratulated her and pecked her on the cheek. Handing her the package in a silvery wrap, he sat back.

Hermione weighted the package on her hand and smiled. "I thought giving books as gifts was my department?" Then she opened the gift. From it the paper emerged a thick text, which Mione took in her hand and leaved through it.

"I hope you like it. Its muggle psychology, but I thought it would be handy anyway." Harry said.

"That doesn't matter, Harry. Something about developmental psychology is always handy when you want to be teacher." Hermione said, placing the gift besides the sheath on the table. Then she looked at the Weasley's.

"You can go first, Gin." Ron hissed at Ginny.

Ginny looked a bit annoyed. "Ron, you would go first. Otherwise you wouldn't dare anymore…"

"Okay." Ron picked up a box, wrapped in deep purple paper and a pink bow and handed it over.

Hermione carefully removed the bow, then removed the paper to show a brown carton box. She laid the paper and bow away and placed the box on the table. Opening it, she only saw some soft cloth. When she pushed it away, she gasped…

In the box laid a beautiful silver tiara. She slowly lifted it out of the box. The silver strips formed an elaborate patron of roses and leaves, decorated with small pearls. "Where did you find this?" she whispered.

"I designed it myself. I think it would look beautiful with your dress robes." Ron said, turning a bit red.

Hermione carefully placed it back in the box and hugged Ron. "Thank you."

Letting go a few moments later she wrapped the cloth around the tiara and closed the box. Then she turned towards Ginny: "Sorry Ginny…"

"Don't worry about it. It isn't every day you get pretty jewelry from your boyfriend." Ginny had a little smile on her face.

Harry and Sirius snickered behind their hands and Hermione and Ron turned bright red. "She isn't my girlfriend." Ron sputtered.

"Maybe not, but you would want to." Ginny quipped back.

"We will discuss this later, Miss Weasley." Hermione hissed. "Now…"

Ginny smiled again and handed her a large package. Hermione opened the package and shook out a soft green bath robe with matching fuzzy slippers

"How did you know that mine was becoming too small?"

"Mione, we shared a room whole summer. I am not blind." Ginny grumbled.

"Gotcha."

***

Hermione insisted that they did their morning practice as always, even thought the other four protested. But when she wanted to get her books to study, they had stopped her and took her to the Holodeck.

Harry had chosen a cinema program, with a film he knew that Hermione liked. After that they headed to Ten Forward for to order some cake and something to drink.

Finally Ginny had prepared a great meal and they had a great time chatting and Sirius telling about a few very interesting adventures in his Hogwarts time.

***

 After they had cleaned up, the five sat down on the couch and chairs. They were just about to order some drinks, when the chime rang.

Hermione looked at her friends, but they shrugged their shoulders. She stood up and went to open the door. She was very surprised when Deanna, Beverly, Will and Picard were standing before the door.

"Good evening. May we come in?" Will said.

"Of course. Come in." Hermione stepped aside to let the guests in. "May I ask why you're here?"

"We heard from Guinan that you had your birthday today. We just wanted to congratulate you." Beverly explained.

Sirius also had stood up. "Please, take a seat. We were just about to get something to drink. Would you like something too?"

Beverly, Deanna, Picard and Will sat down and Sirius quickly handed out their orders. Hermione also wanted to sit down, but the doorbell rang again. She walked back to the door to let Data, Geordi and Guinan in.

Sirius also asked them for their drinks, while Hermione asked them to sit down. Hermione pulled a chair form the bedroom for herself, while Sirius flopped himself down besides Counselor Troi. Quite close besides Counselor Troi.

Hermione sat down on her chair. "Why are you all here? It's only a birthday. And I had a great day with my friends."

"That doesn't matter, Miss Granger. But if we aren't welcome, we will go."

"O no. That's not it. I was merrily a bit surprised."

"We also brought a few presents. This one is from Doctor Crusher and me." Deanna said, handing Hermione a small package.

Hermione opened the wrap, showing a small black box. Carefully she opened it and smiled when she saw the contents of the box. She turned it around to show it the others, revealing a pair of silver and pearl earrings.

"Those should fit beautifully with Ron's gift, Mione" Ginny commented.

"Ron's gift? Which other gifts did you get, by the way?" Beverly asked.

Hermione stood up and walked over to a closet where she had put the gifts. When she had the gifts, she sat down again and showed the sheath, book and bathrobe with slippers. Then she carefully placed the box on her lap and opened it. Gently she lifted the tiara from the cloth, showing it to everyone.

"I believe Miss Weasley was correct in her assumption. The earrings should fit with the tiara." Data commented.

Everyone smiled and Hermione put the gifts away. When she had sat down again, Picard handed her rectangular, heavy package. The wrap should be removed to show a thick text about a few main species in the Federation.

Hermione did so and opened the book with a delighted look on her face. She leaved trough the pages for a few minutes and thanked the captain.

"Great. Now we really have to drag her away if we want to have some fun." Ron grumbled.

Everyone grinned and Data handed her a flat package. After opening it, Hermione burst out laughing.

"I don't understand what you find humorous about this situation. You seem to have a fondness for wearing long skirts and a loose flowing blouse. And I have seen you wearing your gift under those cloths. According to my history research hoses in your time were damaged very quickly. We don't have so many problems with them in this time." Data said.

"I didn't mean to offend you, Mr. Data. It's simply a somewhat… unexpected gift." Hermione said after she had recovered herself.

Hermione quickly placed the gifts on the table and received an own tricorder from Geordi, a text about Federation history from Will and another birthday cake from Guinan.

Ginny quickly took it upon herself to serve out the cake, while Hermione put away her gifts.  

***

They chatted about some lighter topics, but then Harry turned to a somewhat more serious subject. "Captain, how far has the research progressed on Earth?"

"There is progress, but we can't say when they succeed." The Captain answered. "But this reminds me something else. As you know we arrive at the planet Thule tomorrow. We will stay there for three days because of shore leave. But tomorrow evening there is a formal reception. You are welcome to attend if you wish. But it's formal dress."

Hermione and Ginny glanced at each other with a sparkle in their eyes. The boys glanced at each other warily. "We will be there, Captain." Ginny agreed.

"By the way, I have scheduled you to beam down in the first group for the shore leave tomorrow." Will Riker said.

The five nodded in agreement.

Then they turned away from this subject, to something else.

***

"Ginny, I know you're big on healing, but which professions do the other practice in your world? Or which you want to practice?" Guinan asked at a moment in the conversation.

"I was an Auror. That's something like a… detective in the police. We hunt dark wizards down." Sirius answered. 

"I am taking the subjects which help my follow in the footsteps of my father and godfather. I am gonna be an Auror." Harry replied.

"I am gonna be a teacher. Preferably at Hogwarts once."

"Poor kids. You won't stop before every student knows every letter off Hogwarts: a History, Mione."

"Well, you don't even have an idea what you want to do, Mr. I-am-so-great." Hermione retorted to Ron.

Ginny laughed. "For know I am keeping it on healing." She replied when Guinan looked at her.

Hermione retorted again to Ron and everyone laughed again. The evening ended a short while later in bubbles of laughter.