~ Chapter Three ~
A Quiet Birthday

A day after the private talk with the Potions Master, Lillian marched straight up to the Owlery, skipping breakfast, and searched for Merlyn.

Her snowy owl was easily spotted out of a hundred. She spotted him resting on a perch at the highest part of the Owlery.

'Hello Merlyn,' said Lillian.

Merlyn's gleaming yellow eye opened up and saw who it was. Merlyn rotated his head as he faced the wall, refusing to look at Lillian.

Lillian frowned. 'M-Merlyn, I didn't mean to …' She kneeled on the floor, didn't care her black tights were stained with owl feathers and droppings, and began apologizing. 'Merlyn, I'm so sorry for shouting at you in the Great Hall – in front of everyone. Can you ever forgive me?'

The snowy owl remained staring at the wall.

Sighing, Lillian dug in the pocket of her pale-green hoodie and pulled out two, freshly and caught dead mice.

'Oh Merlyn,' she answered softly and seductively, 'look what I've got for my handsome and dashing snowy owl.'

This time Merlyn rotated his head to Lillian and saw the two mice on the palm of her hand. His gleaming yellow eyes widened as he flew from his perch and landed on Lillian's shoulder, scoffing the two mice down at once.

Lillian chuckled. 'So that mean apologies accepted, Merlyn?'

Merlyn had swallowed the mice down, he replied a merrily hoot and nibbled on Lillian's ear.

The bitter frost swept across the grounds, leaves on many trees turned a mixture of yellow and orange. And pumpkins grew the size of a Volkswagen Beetle around Hagrid's house. October had arrived at Hogwarts.

Gilderoy was clearly frightened of Merlyn ever since the incident. The handsome, and extremely foolish, Ravenclaw kept his distance (mainly his fingers) away from Lillian if Merlyn was in sight delivering posts to her or resting on her shoulder during school's intervals and weekends.

Lillian and two of her Gryffindor friends, Samantha Grey and Bill Weasley, were seen working together on their homework at the library or practicing spells and wand movements at their remote spot, near a towering Beech tree by the Black Lake.

Samantha, a Muggle-born Gryffindor like her prefect brother, didn't know a lot about magic, but was an excellent artist. Both, Lillian and Bill, were a bit jealous of Samantha's artist skills. They had seen Samantha's perfect and picturesque charts for Astronomy before handing it in to the Astronomy professor.

Bill's favourite subject was Defence Against the Dark Arts, and Professor von Stein was impressed with Bill's duelling skills.

Lillian, on another hand, knew more spells than some of the seventh-year students would have known. Not only she had memorized all the spells before coming to Hogwarts, she knew all the different plants' names and potion's ingredients by heart.

Today was Sunday the tenth of October. The two Gryffindors and a Slytherin were having the freedom of no-classes and no-homework at their remote spot.

Bill was concentrating reading on his book: The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection. Samantha was sketching Merlyn, who was sleeping on a Beech's branch with his head under his wing.

'What do you think of my drawing?' asked Samantha, showing her sketch to Bill.

Bill turned away from his book and looked at Samantha's sketch. 'It's really good, Sammy,' he replied, 'your sketch is better than Charlie's drawings … and that drawing of Professor Snape.'

Samantha beamed as she went back sketching Merlyn.

Bill looked up the Beech tree. 'You won't tell Professor Snape that, will you, Lillian?'

Lillian was way up high on the limb of the Beech. She looked comfortable. She was lying on her stomach, her legs dangling and her head was resting on her folded arms like a pillow.

'I won't mention about The Poop Master to Professor Snape, Bill,' she replied, sighing. 'Charlie's still drawing another one of his favourite species?'

'He sure is. Charlie's latest masterpiece is a Hebridean Black.'

Samantha paused her sketching as she turned to Bill. 'Isn't that a type of sheep?'

Once again, Bill turned away from his book and looked blankly at Samantha.

She frowned. 'What? Did I say something weird?'

'No you didn't, Sammy,' said Lillian. 'A Hebridean Black is a sheep's breed in the Muggle World. But this Hebridean Black, that Bill mentioned, is a dragon. They do have the same name. Except one's covered with wool while the other one breathes fire.'

Samantha looked up to Lillian. 'There are dragons here too?'

'There are,' said Bill. 'But only two breeds in Britain: a Common Welsh Green and a Hebridean Black. There are all sorts of dragons around the world. Charlie wants to be a dragonologist and go to Romania. But mum forbids him to be one. Dragon's body parts are used in Potions and wands. Like my wand – It has a dragon's heartstring core.'

'Now that you mentioned it, Bill,' said Lillian. 'What's your wand's wood and length?'

'It's Red Oak and the length is eleven and a half inches. What about yours, Sammy?'

Samantha pulled out her wand. It had this sort of pale wood colour. 'My wand's Pear with a Unicorn hair, and the length's ten and a quarter inches. You should have seen Lillian at Ollivanders.'

Bill bookmarked his The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection as he looked up to Lillian. 'Why? Did something happen at Ollivanders? You didn't blow up his store, did you?'

'What no Bill!' Lillian shouted. 'If I did blow up Ollivanders, it would have been on the front page of the Daily Prophet.'

Stretching her arms and her back, she climbed down the Beech tree, taking careful steps and grabbing each limb. She avoided stepping on Merlyn's branch.

'I hope you haven't told your prefect brother, Andrew, about me, Sammy. I bet Professor McGonagall had told the professors already. She was at Ollivanders, along with your parents.'

Her feet touched the ground, dusting her hands.

'I haven't told Andrew … yet,' mumbled Samantha. 'I'm not planning to. He's too busy being a prefect and studying for O.W.L.s than helping me with my homework.'

'Wow, that's harsh, Sammy!' Lillian turned to Bill. 'You'll better not boss around to Charlie and Percy when they get here.'

Bill repeated his question. 'What happened at Ollivanders, Lillian?'

Lillian paused, staring out of the Black Lake. 'I was a tricky customer. I was starting to get worry after trying out so many wands. But Mr Ollivander seemed rather happy. He told me that he never had a tricky customer in a long time. Until this wand chose me.'

She pulled her wand out from the inside of her sleeve as she handed it to Samantha. Lillian's wand had this unique feature with light and dark twisting all around from the handle to the tip.

'It's a rare wand made out of two woods.' Lillian heard Bill gasped and saw his mouth hanging open. 'I know right?! You should've seen Professor McGonagall's face! Ebony and Willow, twelve inches long, and the core: a tail feather of a Phoenix.'

Samantha passed Lillian's wand to Bill as he studied it, running his fingers' tip on it. 'Wow!' He whispered there was a hit of jealous in his voice. 'How much did the wand cost?'

'Nine Galleons,' replied Lillian. 'Thanks Bill.'

Bill had given the unique wand back to its owner. Lillian grasped on her wand's handle.

'I always wanted to sketch a real live Phoenix,' said Samantha, flipping pages on her sketchbook. 'So far I've sketched a unicorn with her foal and a standing-up stick insect.'

'A Bowtruckle, Sammy,' said Lillian correcting. Merlyn had woken up from his sleep. He opened up his wings and soared to Lillian's shoulder. 'Please don't tear-up this new robe like you did last-time, Merlyn. I just bought this one.'

Merlyn replied with a hoot.

'You lost one of your robes already, Lillian? Bill asked. 'Since when?'

'Since our first double Potions. I was running late, remember? I just left my robe on the floor in my room. That rode Merlyn had torn all thanks to Pretty-Boy Lockhart. I thought one of the house-elves might have taken my robe for repairs. But it hasn't been retrieved back to me yet.'

'Mum's always wishing we had a house-elf to do all the housework, and change Ron's and Ginny's diapers for her,' said Bill. 'All we've got in the Burrow is a useless old ghoul in the attic and gnomes all over the garden.'

Lillian chuckled. 'Look on the bright side, Bill. You, Charlie, the twins: Fred and George, and I have lots of fun at the Burrow. Except for Percy, he's no fun for a six year old boy.'

'Percy gets it from mum,' said Bill.

'Did you report about your missing robe to the Lost and Found?' question Samantha.

'It's not really that important to me, Sammy. It's just a robe. Merlyn will just have to be careful with my other robes in future.'

'Returning back to you being Mr Ollivander's tricky customer,' said Bill. 'Did he say who his last tricky customer was?'

'You really want to know, Bill … Mr Ollivander's last tricky was Voldemort.'

Bill gasped. 'Don't say You-Know-Who's name! Merlin's beard! Imagine what mum might do to you next!'

'I'm not afraid of saying Vo – Morty, Bill! After what he did to … my next-door neighbours: The Potters, last Hallowe'en.'

Now it was Samantha's turn to gasp. 'Wait what?! The Potters were your next-door neighbours, Lillian? Did you see Harry Potter, The Boy Who Li –'

'Sammy, please don't called Harry that!' snapped Lillian at Samantha. She closed her vivid emerald-green orbs and took a breather.

'I'm sorry for shouting at you, Sammy. Harry may be famous, but Lily and James died protecting him last Hallowe'en. They were … more than neighbours to me and Harry and I were very close to each-other. I'm glad that Morty is dead! He can rot in Hell for murdering innocent people and made Harry an orphan!'

Samantha stood up and walked towards Lillian. 'I am so sorry. I didn't know,' she whispered, embracing a hug.

'It's not your fault, Sammy. You and Bill are good friends to me than the Slytherin boys in our year. They're all idiots! Bill and I've known each-other when we were toddlers. My dad and Mr Weasley were best friends at Hogwarts and still best friends today.'

'That's because my dad kept begging to your dad to give the used batteries to him for his collection. Mum thinks dad is mad.'

'I agree with your mum, Bill,' said Samantha. 'Your dad sounds mad.'

'And I bid it sucks to be the only first-year girl in Slytherin, Lillian,' said Bill.

Lillian sighed. 'It is, Bill. But it's great to have my own dorm – a bedroom and a bathroom just for myself.'

'You're lucky!' moaned Samantha.

'And what do you think of Professor Snape as your Head?' asked Bill.

'He's not scaring you, is he, Lillian?' added Samantha. 'He scares me.'

Lillian looked at Samantha in surprise. 'I wasn't so sure of Professor Snape when we met eye-to-eye at the Start-of-Term Feast, but …'

It took a while for Lillian to describe the Head of Slytherin.

'All the students may see him as a cold, malicious, bitter and sarcastic person. But I see Professor Snape as a tight-lipped, a respect and intelligent wizard at such a young age of twenty-two.'

'What twenty-two?!' Samantha shouted, dropping her sketchbook. 'Professor Snape is that young? I thought he's …' She went pink, 'in his thirties.'

'No Sammy, Professor Snape is not in his thirties.'

'How did you know Professor Snape is twenty-two years old?' questioned Bill.

'That's a secret for Slytherins only. Sorry Bill.'

'I understand.' said Bill. 'You're the only Slytherin I trust, and Grandma Cedrella. She was in Slytherin like your mum. Professor Snape only trusts and favours his own House, Lillian, and you're his favourite.'

Lillian's cheeks flushed like her strawberry-red hair. 'I-I'm pretty sure Professor Snape got other favourite Slytherins than me, Bill. All the older female students like Professor von Stein.'

'Well Professor von Stein is kinder than Professor Snape, Lillian,' said Samantha. 'And I like him.'

'Professor von Stein is alright, I just hope nothing bad is going to happen to him like the other professor had taught Defence Against the Dark Arts before.'

Bill stared. 'What do you mean nothing bad is going to happen to him?'

Lillian knew Samantha was a Muggle-born. So she didn't know much of the Wizarding World, if her prefect brother, Andrew, had told her.

She turned to Bill.

'I don't want to upset you, Bill. We both know you enjoy Defence Against the Dark Arts – Your number one subject.'

'Upset about what, Lillian?'

'Didn't your parents tell you that Defence Against the Dark Arts is jinxed, Bill?'

Bill frowned, shaking his head slowly.

'Well it is. Previous professors, who held that subject, hadn't lasted least than a year.'

Samantha clapped her hands to her mouth in horror. 'Who told you about this?' She asked in a grave whisper.

'Mum,' replied Lillian softly. 'When she and dad were finishing their third-year in 1966, it just started to happen. At the end of the school year, a professor would end up dead, curse or sack if they were teaching that subject. But Mum didn't know how it started. But it got something to do with Professor Dumbledore when he became headmaster.'

'Professor Dumbledore is not an evil wizard like You-Know-Who, Lillian!'

'I didn't say Professor Dumbledore is an evil wizard, Bill … It just how it all started in the first place. Tempus.'

Glowing paled turquoise numbers appeared at the tip of Lillian's wand. 16:54 pm.

'We better head back to the castle.'

The trio had gathered their belongings and headed their way to the castle. Merlyn was feeling rather lazy today. He remained on Lillian's shoulder sleeping.

'You are such a lazy thing, Merlyn!' complained Lillian.

The walked from the Beech tree took them ten minutes. Then they came across a very violent tree, the Whomping Willow.

'That was close,' said Bill panting, after he, Lillian with Merlyn on the shoulder and Samantha had run pass the Whomping Willow. He looked back.

The Whomping Willow was trying to lash onto their backsides with its long, whipping branches. But it couldn't reach.

'What's the point of having that tree planted here in the first place?! It might murder someone next!'

'I don't know, Bill,' said Lillian. 'Mum didn't tell me about it or dad. Or maybe it wasn't planted yet when they were students. I wonder it was planted there when Lily and James were students?'

'Then why don't you ask Professor Snape about the Whomping Willow, Lillian? He must be around the same age as Lily and James Potter.'

'Did you drink a Forgetfulness Potion, Bill? You are forgetting one important thing about Professor Snape. He hates Gryffindors. Both Lily and James were in Gryffindor, and Professor Snape was in Slytherin. If I tell him, he would give me a detention for sure.'

'Let's forget about all that then, shall we?' said Samantha as they stopped near the Great Hall.

'Your birthday is only a week away, Lillian,' said Bill. 'Do you want something special for your birthday?'

Lillian shook her head. 'No thanks Bill. I don't want anything special. I just want a quiet birthday this year.'

'I understand, Lillian. This is your first birthday without your mum. See you tomorrow.'

Lillian nodded. 'Yeah, see you.'

'Take care, Lillian,' said Samantha, following Bill.

The two Gryffindors climbed up the stairs to the Gryffindor Tower, leaving Lillian with Merlyn on her shoulder.

Merlyn had just woken up. He opened up his wings, ruffling his feather.

'Alright Merlyn, you had your rest,' said Lillian. 'You can fly up to the Owlery on your own now.'

Merlyn nibbled on Lillian's ear as he took-off from her shoulder and flew away to the Owlery. This time Merlyn didn't torn Lillian's robe on the shoulder. Lillian was heading her way downstairs to the dungeons.

In the early hours of the seventeenth, Lillian couldn't fall back to sleep. She was tossing and turning in bed, and growing frustration. She scrabbled for her unique wand in the dark. At last, she found it and muttered, 'Tempus.'

It was quarter to five. Then she realised that today was October the seventeenth – Lillian had turned twelve years old, least than five hours ago.

'Well Lillian Aurora Hale,' she mumbled, 'you've reached the age of twelve.' She sang under her breath, 'Happy Birthday to me … Happy Birthday to me …'

Giving up of attempting falling back to sleep, Lillian lit her bedside lamp, hopped out of bed and changed out of her pyjamas into her clothes. After brushing all the knots out in her long strawberry-red hair, she grabbed a green ribbon and tied it up her hair into a ponytail. She wrapped her emerald-and-silver scarf around her exposed neck.

Quiet as a mouse, Lillian turned off the lamp, tiptoed out of her dorm, without waking or disturbing the sleeping Slytherins in their dorms. And she successfully walked out of the Slytherin Common Room.

Lillian pointed her wand ahead, muttered, 'Lumos!' A ball of bright light shined at the end of her wand.

She had walked all away from the dungeons to the courtyard outside. The place was deserted. The only sounds Lillian could hear were an owl's screeching and water splashing coming from the water feature spouting water upward. She sat down.

'Nox!'

The ball of bright light at the end of her wand went out. Sitting alone in the dark, she grasped her wand tightly and looked up.

'Wow!' Lillian answered speechless.

It was a moonless night, but the black sky was blanketed with countless of stars twinkling like diamonds. Lillian could describe the starry-night as breath-taking, but –

'It's a beautiful night, isn't it, Lillian?'

Lillian jumped in fright as she spun around and pointed her wand at the approaching figure. As the approaching figure was getting closer, Lillian lowered her wand after recognizing the figure's long silver hair and beard.

'Professor Dumbledore! You gave me such affright!'

'My apologies, Lillian,' said the headmaster calmly as he sat down. His blue eyes, behind his half-moon spectacles, were twinkling like the stars above. 'Please, do sit down. Would you like some hot chocolate? As a birthday treat. Peppermint in yours, am I correct?'

Lillian tucked her wand away up her sleeve as she sat down. 'Y-Yes please. Professor, how did you know I like my hot chocolate with peppermint in it?'

'Your mother liked her hot chocolate with a hint of peppermint when she was a student here. As for me, I like mine with marshmallows between the foam.'

A large silver tray with two mugs of steaming hot chocolate and a large plate of chocolate chip biscuits popped in front of them, floating in mid-air.

'Be careful, might be hot,' said Professor Dumbledore, taking the first sip of his hot chocolate. 'Mmm, delicious!'

Lillian reached the mug's handle and took a caution sip of her hot chocolate. Professor Dumbledore was right about being a very hot drink, but Lillian's hot chocolate hit the right spot. She sighed.

Lillian returned looking up at the starry-night. 'Did you just come and look at the stars, Professor?'

'Actually Lillian, I've been here at least an hour and a half to gaze the stars,' said Professor Dumbledore, sipping his drink.

'I-I didn't even see you, Professor.'

'Ah! Being invisible is my number one trick. Been keeping up with your classes?'

'Yes Professor. I've been getting my homework done, so I can spend the free-times with Bill and Samantha.'

Professor Dumbledore chuckled. 'You're very fortunate to have friends like Mr Weasley and Miss Grey.'

Then he pulled out his wand and flicked it in the air. Lillian frowned, until she realised that area around them had gone silent. She couldn't hear the screeching owl from a distance. The water feature was still spouting upwards, but not making a single sound of splashing.

'Now we're alone, I need to ask you something – something very important to me. Are you ready to share the part of your memory to –'

'No! P-Please!' Lillian burst in. 'I'm not ready for that yet! I'm still recovering after what I've been through on that night, last-year,' she whimpered, a tear rolled down on her cheek, 'I-I'm sorry.'

The headmaster reached out and patted the only first-year Slytherin girl on the shoulder comforting her.

'Don't apologies. I appreciate. These things take time to heal in pain and loss. I won't rush you. I'm astonished Aurora had taught you well to shield your mind. When you are ready to show your memory to me, let me know. I'll be by your side – all away. I'm the only one know your secrets. You won't be the only one, who will be facing a great deal of danger in the future.'

Lillian nodded feverishly. 'I know, Professor. I know.'

She took another sip of her peppermint flavour hot chocolate as she dunked one of the chocolate chip biscuits in her drink and chewed it. The third sip had calmed down the nerves.

'Do you often gaze at the stars, Professor?'

'Every night I do. I come here to do a bit of stargazing. It helps me with my misfortune past I have come across. Like when my mother and my younger sister died.'

'I-I'm sorry to hear about your mum and your sister, Professor. I … really do miss my mum. And I hardly even look like her too.'

Professor Dumbledore turned and studied Lillian.

'True. You do have the red hair, green eyes and personality from Matthew's side of the family. But you do have Aurora's shape of her eyes, her intelligence and her beauty. You don't have to be exactly like Aurora. Be yourself, Lillian Aurora Hale, that's exactly who you are.'

'Thank you, Professor,' said Lillian beaming as she looked up the starry-night. 'May I ask you something, Professor?'

Professor Dumbledore took a sip of his hot chocolate. 'Fire away.'

'I don't to offend you, Professor. But how did the subject: Defence Against the Dark Arts got jinx in the first place? Since you –'

'Became Hogwarts' new headmaster in 1965,' said Professor Dumbledore, looking calm. 'The same year your parents were in their third-year.'

Lillian nodded apologetic. 'Yes.'

'Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry have never been able to keep a Defence Against the Dark Arts professor for longer than a year since I refused the job to Lord Voldemort.'

Lillian turned back, those vivid emerald-green eyes were staring to the bright blue ones. A bit of the chocolate chip biscuit she was holding had broken off and splashed into her hot chocolate.

Then she thought of Professor von Stein; he's pearly-white skin and those striking icy-blue eyes.

'Professor von Stein's a good teacher. I hope he won't get himself kill or harm.'

'Me too, Lillian,' said Professor Dumbledore. 'Wilhelm is brave enough to take the job. As for Severus, he wanted the job. But I have to offer Severus to teach Potions since Horace retired.'

Lillian looked back up to the starry-night, tilting her head from side to side. 'I can see … it's either my dad's Patronus or James Potter's Patronus standing on its hind legs and showing-off its antlers.' I wonder what my Patronus will take form of? She thought in her mind. She turned to Professor Dumbledore. 'What do you see, Professor?'

Professor Dumbledore looked up. Lillian waited patiently as she heard a chuckle. 'I see a pair of thick, woollen socks with zig-zag patterns on them.'

Lillian stared blankly. 'That's … interesting, Professor.'

Mr Weasley isn't the one wizard a bit mad, Lillian thought again, drinking the last of her hot chocolate. At least Professor Dumbledore doesn't collects used batteries.

'Is there anything else you can see, other than a pair of socks, Professor?'

'I see a student that was supposed to be in bed, but out of bed.'

It was Professor Snape. He had sought up behind them.

'Severus,' said the headmaster, smiling at the frowning Potions Master. 'I didn't even hear you coming. I must be going deaf.'

'Well juggling that the fountain isn't making any sound at all, Headmaster,' replied Professor Snape, eyeing at the noiseless water feature. He slowly turned to Lillian. 'And what are you doing out of bed at this hour of the morning, Miss Hale?'

'I-I couldn't sleep, Professor.'

Professor Snape didn't approve Lillian's answer. 'You shouldn't have stayed in your dorm or in the Common Room than being outside the Courtyard stargazing.'

Lillian hung her head, staring at Professor Snape's black shoes.

'Now, now Severus, don't be so harsh with your student,' said Professor Dumbledore, defending. 'I was with her the whole time –'

'No Professor Dumbledore – Professor Snape's right.' Lillian answered back. 'It was silly of me walking out of the Common Room unsupervised in the early hours of the morning. I deserved to be on detention.' She turned to Professor Snape. 'But since today is my birthday, I want to pick a day for my detention and you can arrange it. Is that satisfied to you, Professor?'

Professor Snape's black eyes were staring into the vivid emerald-green ones as he glanced to Professor Dumbledore, who was giving a reasonable nod to him.

'Very well then, Miss Hale,' he answered softly. 'But five points will be taken from Slytherin as well for being an early-riser. Which day do you require your detention to be on?'

'Hallowe'en,' Lillian said straightaway. That surprised Professor Snape. 'I want my detention to be on Hallowe'en, Professor.'