Surprise
Disclaimer: Do I look like the genius that had the million dollar idea for Harry Potter?
-the next day
Ginny Weasley walked into the Great Hall and towards the Gryffindor table, her stomach growling at the thought of dinner. She had a slight smile on her face as she sat down next to her best friend, Bianca. Just as Ginny was scooping mashed potatoes onto her plate, the whole Gryffindor table, and a few others (who were not in Slytherin) shouted, "Happy Birthday, Ginny!" A spoonful of potatoes flew across the room as Ginny jumped up in surprise. Then she grinned and quietly said, "Thanks everybody."
As she sat down again, Bianca immediately asked, "So, were you surprised? Were you embarrassed? I think I would be embarrassed if the whole school was focused on me, but luckily, my birthday is in July, and we're always on holiday! Can you believe that Ron took the time to tell everyone that it was your birthday and plan out the signal and everything, just to surprise you? That was really sweet of him, don't you think?"
"Yeah, sweet," Ginny brushed a bit of red hair out of her eyes. She didn't seem quite as excited as everyone else.
"Well, you better not expect a party after this," Bianca continued eagerly. "We've already given you your surprise," she told Ginny, grinning wickedly.
"I was really, really surprised."
"I have my gift for you in my dormitory, so I'll give it to you after dinner."
"Okay. Thanks, Bianca."
Ginny noticed that Dean was coming over from a seat with his friends. He walked over and stood behind her chair, as if waiting for her to greet him. She was pretending like she hadn't noticed him and continued talking to Bianca. After a few moments, he leaned over and gave her a hug from behind.
"Hi, Dean."
"Hey Gins."
"Will you stop calling me that, please? My name is Ginny," she said, and smiled up at him.
"Well, I have to have some kind of nickname for you."
"Please, just not that. We can sit down sometime and decide on a good name together. How does that sound?"
"Whatever you say, Honeybun."
Ginny rolled her eyes- Dean was still behind her and couldn't see. She turned around to tell him goodbye, but he had already gone back to his seat by Seamus.
When they were all done eating, Bianca hurriedly told Ginny that she needed to have a word with someone, and she'd meet her in the common room. She then walked quickly past Ginny in the direction of Gryffindor Tower, her blonde braid swinging. Ginny decided to take her time and walked slowly after her friend.
As she was walking out the doors of the Great Hall, she heard a low voice from behind her.
"Weasley, why did you look so miserable at dinner? Didn't you like your surprise? I bet you never get that kind of attention at home."
"Go to hell, Malfoy."
"And I thought your mother had taught you manners. C'mon, tell me."
"Why should I tell you why I was miserable? No one else knows."
Malfoy paused, before he said quietly, "Wouldn't it help to tell someone?" in a kinder voice than any he had ever spoken in before.
"Well, the truth is, today is not my birthday- yesterday was."
"Well, happy late birthday, Weasley."
"Thanks. Well, I better get going- they're throwing me a surprise party."
He raised his eyebrows, smirking slightly, then turned and sauntered away.
Ginny's guess was confirmed as she climbed through the portrait hole. "Surprise!"
"Again!" added Ron.
"Again? Thanks, you guys," Ginny said, forcing a smile.
"We've got food and presents, Ginny!"
"Great, but I'm sorta tired, so I think I'll pass on the food and just get through those presents," Ginny said, while thinking Didn't we just eat?
She settled into a chair by the fire and pulled the stack of presents towards her. Without waiting for any instruction, she started ripping the sparkly purple paper off of a gift. Inside was a dark green winter scarf.
"That's from me, Ginny. I thought the color would complement your hair," said Hermione brightly.
"Thanks," Ginny replied. She was beginning to think that this might not be such a bad party after all... even though every single person present had forgotten when her real birthday was...
Next she opened a huge bag of prank candies and toys that Fred and George had sent from their shop. Ron gave her a book called Dreams of the Heart. It looked like a romance novel, and she wondered if Ron actually thought she read them, because she never had. Harry gave her an exact replica of a Golden Snitch. He knew that someday she wanted to be a Seeker. The Snitch circled around the room three times, but that seemed all it had the energy for, and it slowed down and landed back in the box.
After Ginny had opened all the gifts, Bianca ran up to the dormitory. She returned holding a gift with light blue wrapping paper. When Ginny ripped off the paper, she saw a beautiful necklace with mother-of-pearl beads.
"Oh, it's beautiful!" Ginny cried. "Thank-you, Bianca," she murmured, enveloping her friend in a hug.
"You're welcome, Ginny," Bianca said.
After a few more minutes, Ginny thanked everyone for the presents and told them that she was going to bed.
As she was climbing into her bed, Ginny noticed a small package laying on her pillow. She picked it up and looked underneath for a card, or some sign of who it was from, but there was nothing there. She quickly unwrapped the parcel and saw the most magnificent gift she had received all night. It was a small box, midnight blue in color, with ornate carvings across the top. Ginny sat there for many minutes, staring at the box. It didn't appear to be a magical object of any sort, but it seemed to be putting an enchantment on her.
Ginny was beginning to feel very light headed when she heard someone coming up the stairs to the dormitory. She didn't feel like sharing the fascinating box with anyone just yet, so she quickly tucked it under her pillow.
Bianca walked into the circular room and sank down onto her bed. The party had gone on for a long time, even without Ginny, and everyone was very tired.
"Goodnight, Gin. Hope you had a good birthday," Bianca said, while stifling a yawn.
"Thanks, Bianca."
"Goodnight."
" 'Night."
But, tired as she was, Ginny didn't go to sleep for a long time. She couldn't stop wondering about that last gift. Who had given it to her? And what was it, exactly? Her mind eventually drifted to the conversation she had had with Draco, and she wondered why she was even giving it any more thought. He had always been a nasty bastard, she told herself, and that wasn't about to change. After finally making herself believe this, she fell asleep.
