Thank you so much to everyone for the support! all the follows and favourites have been amazing! I am loving the messages I've been receiving, thank you soooooo much!

a big ol' chapter for you today as a little thanks for waiting!

Flying, staircases and cake.


Thursday loomed unexpectedly fast and Draco was panicking. He had no plan whatsoever, aside from taking Neville's remembrall and taunting Harry. Though he suspected that wouldn't work this time, mainly because Harry didn't have a deep-seated dislike of him anymore.

"If only I wasn't so charming and personable." He lamented, leaning heavily against the outer stonewall of the castle.

A distinct snort came from beside him as Hermione joined him in leaning against the wall.

"Draco Malfoy, being charming? Call the press, I have an exclusive." She deadpanned.

"Oh how witty you are, Minister." He sighed.

"You okay?" She nudged his shoulder. "You seem," she struggled for a word, "Distracted?"

He shrugged noncommittally, "I guess."

"Flying class?"

"Bloody Potter." He murmured.

Hermione chuckled and smiled at him, smacking his arm lightly.

"Thinks he's so special." He whined, just to hear her laugh again, which she did, loudly. Draco grinned at her cheekily. "With his broomstick." His impression of his younger self was spot on and he was finding it hard no to laugh himself. "And his scar."

"Oh shut up you twit!" Hermione laughed, pushing his head away from where he was leaning towards her. "You really are incorrigible."

"One on my many, many redeeming qualities I'm sure." He smirked at her, before letting it drop and staring blankly back towards the broomshed.

"Don't worry too much about it," Hermione smiled gently at him, "just…" she tapered off quietly.

"I know, I know." He sighed heavily. "I don't even think I could pick on Neville even if I were so inclined. Blaise would kill me."

"Yes, they really get on well don't they?" She mused happily.

"It's amazing how a love of Quidditch teams can bring people together." He chuckled.

"Truly wondrous."

She was smiling at him brightly now, leaning against him as the cold September wind blew at them. Her face was pink, eyes watering and every few seconds she sniffed trying –and failing- to stop the flow of snot coming from her nose. Adorable.

"Come on Hermione," He began steering her to the door, "let's get back in where it's warm. You've got snot dripping from your face and I don't want you wiping it on me."

She cackled at that, allowing him to guide them into the hallway. "Fair point," reaching into her school bag, she pulled out a pack of muggle tissues, removing one before passing it over to him.

Her gaze flicked over his face, lingering on his nose. "You've you something" she inclined her head slightly; stifling a laugh as she viciously blew her nose.

Draco's face contorted in revulsion, he quickly pulled a tissue from the small plastic packet and wiped at his own snot trail. "This is so undignified." He muttered, vanishing the tissue.

"We're children Draco, all children are covered in various mucus."

He let out a groan of despair, letting Hermione drag him along as they headed back towards the classrooms.

Their first period had been free and Draco had hoped to use it to find inspiration for the upcoming flying lesson. Hermione joined him shortly after, using her nifty little map to find him no doubt. She seemed happier today, a bit of a bounce in her step. She hadn't stopped smiling and it was infectious.

After reaching the first floor, she shooed him up the stairs and headed off to History of magic, promising to see him at flying lessons.

"Wait Hermione!" he quickly called after her dashing down the corridor, "I forgot to ask, is there any chance I can borrow a quill? Theo broke mine this morning and I forgot to get a new one out the… why are you looking at me like that?"

She had sucked her lips into her mouth and was looking apologetic. "It's just I haven't got any quills."

"No quills? What have you been writing with?"

Sheepishly she reached into her bag and pulled out, a quill…

"That's definitely a quill Hermione." He said slowly, eyeing her worriedly.

She huffed at him before twisting the feather to show the nib, which wasn't a nib. It was some sort of metal point with a tiny ball at the tip.

"It's a ballpoint pen, I was sick of ending up with ink everywhere so I just combined them? It's not perfect," she hurriedly explained. "It's just until I can work on a better design, the plastic doesn't mesh so well with the quill, but it saves all the dipping and spilled inkpots for now."

"A type of muggle pen?" He hedged cautiously.

"Yes"

"That doesn't require getting ink all over oneself?"

"Not unless you smash it, no."

"Hermione, you are a genius."

Despite her already pink face, from being outside, Draco saw her turn a few shades darker.

"Oh um, thank you." She smiled happily, "If you're alright with it, then I guess you can borrow one." She handed him the one in her hand, "you can be my tester and, um, if you like it you can keep it?"

The bell suddenly echoed through the halls jarring them both. The doors flew open down the corridor and students began streaming from them.

Quickly Draco hugged her giving her a quick peck on the cheek as thanks, pelted along the corridor and up the stairs waving his quill as a goodbye. He could just about hear her laugh through the din.

He made it just in time to enter the classroom before the door closed; glancing about he spotted Blaise sitting alone and proceeded to plonk down next to him.

"Where'd you go?" Blaise asked, eyebrow raised, giving him an unimpressed once over. "You look like you've been thrown from one of the towers," the boy's lip curled "and you're dripping snot."

"Ah, thanks," Draco pulled Hermione's pack of tissues from his pocket, "went for a bit of fresh air, invigorates the soul and all that." He blew his nose noisily, grinning at Blaise's shudder.

Blaise chose to ignore his lack of decorum, instead turning and pulling out his new black folder. Smugly he gazed around the room as he placed it on his desk. His name glinted in silver embossed writing. Hermione had really outdone herself with Blaise and Theo's folders. She even added a little Slytherin crest in shimmering silver in the corner.

Draco rolled his eyes; Blaise had been doing this all week, as soon as Hermione had presented him with it in fact. Theo was hardly any better, but at least he had stopped gloatingly flashing it about.

Pursing his lips, Draco removed his own folder; he had a sneaking suspicion that Hermione had done it on purpose to annoy him. He didn't mind that his one didn't have the Slytherin crest, really he didn't. He supposed his one looked more elegant and adult.

He saw Blaise watching him out of the corner of his eye, so he laid his new ballpoint quill atop his folder with a flourish. He was not being petty.

"What's that?" Came Blaise's immediate response.

"What? Oh this?" He said picking up the feather and holding the pen tip towards Blaise, "Hermione gave it to me, it's a muggle thing. Don't have to dip it into ink or anything." He said with feigned nonchalance.

"Let me see." Blaise grabbed for it, but Draco was quicker.

"No time for that now Blaise, it's learning time, shame on you." Draco dutifully opened his folder and began writing down the notes on the board. So he occasionally flicked his quill too much, didn't make him petty.

"Favouritism, that's what this is." Blaise grumbled from beside him.

"Absolutely" Draco flashed his teeth at Blaise, and the boy chuckled at him.

Draco spent the rest of the day showing off his new muggle quill in every class he was in. Flashing it about and making no attempt to hide his glee, it was a nice distraction from his task later on. He had several Ravenclaw's show interest in his new curiosity and agreed to see if he could get some for them too. Perhaps Hermione would be willing to do a little bit of a side business with him.

Flying class came about with much excitement from all his classmates, and they headed out to the grounds with much exuberance. Chucking their school bags into a massive pile by the broomshed, they followed Madame Hooch's instructions and lined up for her speech about safety.

Draco's eyes wandered and settled on Hermione, she was shuffling along the crowd and kept looking up at the castle, then down to the ground as though calculating something. Moving quickly he ducked down and approached her. He grabbed her arm just as she was about to cast a cushioning charm on the grass.

"You can't Hermione." He whispered softly.

Madame Hooch's gaze turned sharply towards them and they straightened as though paying attention.

"Why not?" she muttered, barely moving her lips.

"Because if he doesn't need to go to the hospital wing, then we won't be left unsupervised." He squeezed her arm, before letting go. "I'm sorry. I don't want him to get hurt either."

"I know."

She let him draw her away from the offending spot of grass, as the class began to line up alongside their brooms. Hermione kept glancing at Neville and chewing on the inside of her mouth. Draco felt his stomach drop as they were instructed to mount their brooms.

Shit, he couldn't do it. He couldn't knowingly let a child be injured.

Neville's broom shot into the air, and so did Draco's.


Hermione gasped as Neville left the ground beside her, shooting into the sky like a rocket. Her wand was in her hand before she knew it, but Draco rendered her unnecessary. He zoomed into the sky, quickly approaching Neville.

The next few moments happened so fast Hermione wasn't sure she witnessed it correctly.

Neville's grip loosened and he slid from his broom like a sack of potatoes. Her heart lurched into her throat and she let out a cry that was taken up by those around her. Then Draco was hanging by one arm and leg, gripping Neville's forearm with his hand.

The next thing she knew there was a blast of air next to her, as Harry also shot into the sky. He grabbed Neville's other arm and between them the boys dragged poor Neville onto Draco's broom.

Everyone clapped, cheered and yelled, Hermione laughed slightly hysterically, gripping her wand to her chest.

A scream broke out as Harry suddenly dived at an incredible speed towards the ground, spinning in place and pulling up just inches from impact. His face was red and he was clutching a small glinting object in his fingers.

"Got it Neville!" He screeched, waving his arm enthusiastically, the small remembrall shining in the light.

Draco slowly lowered his broom to the ground, and Hermione could see that Neville was shaking and had a death grip around Draco's waist. Both Harry and Draco landed their brooms unsteadily before sliding heavily to the floor. Harry tried to hand Neville back his remembrall, but he wouldn't let go of Draco and was blinking back tears.

Poor boy needed a bit of calming draught, which she mentioned to Madame Hooch before offering to take Neville to the hospital wing.

Madame Hooch looked like she didn't know whether to praise or punish the boys for their actions, she settled on giving them a lecture on recklessness as well as five points a piece for quick thinking.

Hermione gave Draco a soft smile as she pried Neville loose from him; Draco grimaced back as he took a deep breath. Neville had been practically crushing his ribcage.

As she moved Neville gently away from the training ground, the rest of the class began heaping praise on Harry and Draco. Both boys shakily got up from the floor. She looked back one last time, making eye contact with Draco, who had been watching her leave; he smiled sheepishly, face flushed and eyes bright.

Professor McGonagall rushed past her and Neville as they made their way up to the Hospital wing, quickly stopping to check that 'the poor boy' was all right, before vanishing down the stairs faster than Hermione had ever seen her move before. Hermione was finding it difficult not to grin as she murmured soft encouragements to Neville.

A couple of sips of calming draught and Neville was feeling much better, his eyes still had a slightly wide look to them, but other than that, all good. Hermione sat with him and they chatted about random things; food, holidays, school, anything to keep Neville's mind off the fact he had nearly dropped an undisclosed height –as Hermione wasn't going to tell him- from a broomstick.

Not even half an hour later, Dean, Seamus and Ron ran into the Hospital wing. They were carrying Neville and Hermione's bags all chattering excitedly, arms waving as they relayed the event from their point of view.

"How… how high?" Neville squeaked, face turning pale as Ron began a dramatic retelling of Neville flying through clouds.

"Not that high." Hermione patted his arm reassuringly, taking that as her cue to leave.

She quietly slipped out the door, whipping out her book and asking it courteously where she might find Draco Lucius Malfoy. It didn't take long to find him, because he was right where she left him. Most of the class had stayed behind, sitting about in the grass laughing and talking raucously. Draco had a small crowd round him all trying to slap him on the back and tell him 'how awesome' he had been.

She glanced round and didn't see Harry, so McGonagall had taken him to meet Oliver after all. Excellent, everything seemed to have worked out quite well, one less thing to worry about now anyway.

Draco spotted her through the limbs flailing at him, and ducked away citing a need to go to the loo. "All that excitement has gone straight through me, if you'll please excuse me."

He frantically motioned for her to turn around and go back inside, laughing quietly she quickly ran back into the castle and waited for him.

"Like bloody piranhas, I have never been so accosted in all my life." He exclaimed as he fell into step beside her. He was adjusting his collar, which was half up, and trying to fix his tie at the same time. His hair was sticking up at odd angles, and his shirt had become un-tucked.

"Why do they have an incessant need to smack my head? What does that accomplish? Ruffling their fingers through my hair, personal space be damned." He was complaining loudly, but his face was red and he couldn't stop smiling. Rambling out of embarrassment most likely.

"I thought you were amazing." Hermione stated, linking her arm through his.

Draco slammed his mouth shut and looked at her sharply.

"Very brave." She said looking straight ahead, a small smile on her face.

"Yeah." He said softly, then more confidently "yeah I guess I was, wasn't I?"

"Very much so," she nodded firmly.

"Of course anyone would have done the same." He said, puffing out his chest slightly.

"Of course."

"Just doing my duty."

"My hero." She purred at him, grinning.

He laughed delightedly, practically skipping along, before stopping dead still. Hermione looked at him curiously, he was chewing on his inner cheek slightly, gaze flitting to her.

"Um Hermione?"

"Yes?"

"It was supposed to be a surprise, I mean I didn't want you too think that I'd... And then you didn't mention it, so I didn't want to push…"

Hermione waited patiently for Draco to stop rambling.

He turned to her smiling, "Happy Birthday!" he breathed.

Hermione blinked owlishly at him, it wasn't as though she'd forgotten the date, and she'd written it at the top of her parchments all day. She just, hadn't told anyone it was her birthday. Realising she was standing there gaping at him, Hermione sharply closed her mouth and smiled at him.

"How did you…?"

"Please." He waved his hand at her, "It's practically a national holiday, Granger day or something."

"Nobody calls it that." She laughed.

"Well I remembered, okay? And I, well we," he inclined his head slightly as though motioning to other people, "have organised a little celebration for you."

Hermione could feel her throat tightening and her vision getting blurry. With a squeal of happiness she threw her arms round Draco crushing him tightly to her.

"Easy Minister!" Draco gasped "still not over Neville's death grip!"

She released him with a wet chuckle, wiping her eyes on her sleeves.

"So you'll go? And pretend to be surprised so the others don't kill me?" He added in a rush.

Hermione was filled with such warmth, managing just a soggy nod and a weepy smile.

"Save it for the reaction later," Draco patted her head. "Come on Hermione lets go hide you until dinner."

"Okay" she weakly muttered, slipping her hand into his as he led her through the castle.


"Do you think it's too much?" Fred asked tilting his head and gazing around the small classroom he was standing in. They'd chosen one on the second floor, just off the stairs. Fred knew for a fact that it hadn't been used in all the years they'd been at Hogwarts, which made it perfect.

"Nonsense!" cried George swinging his legs wildly. George was currently dangling under a broom one handed. The other hand was busily stuffing a wodge of banner into the ceiling. Over his arm was a vast array of ribbons, paper streamers, glowing lanterns and baubles.

He continued to haphazardly float around the ceiling, cheerfully smacking the collection into the stone as he went.

"I think it's just the right amount of celebratory pizazz!" he yelled, viciously throwing more ribbons everywhere.

"True, true. I do concede Georgie my boy it's certainly party-esque."

"Thanks," George huffed, twisting about in the air to shoot his twin a smirk. "I got this, you go hit up the kitchen."

"Any requests?"

"Edible stuffs."

"Plan."

Fred skipped out the old classroom, chuckling as he went, and proceeded to head down the stairs to the dungeons.

About half way down he heard a loud whooping screech, followed by a vast array of swearing and yelling.

Pausing and snapping his head in the direction of the commotion, Fred had a split second to register the sound of the steps clunking down, before his feet were whipped from beneath him and he slid down the now smooth stone.

He let out a surprised yelp, arms bracing either side of his body as he flew down the marble slide.

Glancing back he could make out about ten other students sliding haphazardly behind him, some were head first, a couple were rolling as they went and one young girl was smiling like a loon waving her hands in the air letting out a whoop as they bounced across the landing onto the next set of stairs.

"I'm gonna kill you Kellah!" One particularly green looking firstie girl was screeching. Her hand flew too her mouth as she rocketed past him, blonde hair twisting in all directions.

Kellah seemed unbothered by this, he assumed the super happy one was Kellah, she just laughed louder.

Fred joined in her laughter, and raised his hands allowing his body to pick up speed. They barrelled down the main staircase at a dangerous pace, before skidding across the main hall in a mass of flailing limbs and screeching.

They hit the wall with a loud thud and much groaning.

"What is going on?" McGonagall's voice boomed from the top of the stairs.

Fred could hear her boots thudding along the upper corridor; he reckoned he has a few seconds, before the stairs reformed, in which to escape. No way was he getting a detention tonight, especially when it wasn't his prank.

He rolled sharply from the pile of students, using the surrounding onlookers as a shield. Moving quickly he slid down a small side corridor, before standing up and pelting it down a tiny spiral staircase.

He slammed into the wall outside the kitchens panting heavily. Man that was close! Moving urgently he tickled the pear and when it turned into a doorknob he grabbed it quickly and flung himself into the kitchens.

He sat heavily on the nearest bench and began cackling. That Kellah girl was a genius! He definitely needed to find out how she did that! Oh George was going to be pissed he missed it! Still laughing, Fred wiped away some tears and accepted a glass of orange juice from a nearby elf.

He explained to them that he needed food for a surprise party, and that they were holding it on the second floor in the first classroom. In a flurry the elves set to work, dashing around in all directions food flying past on enchanted platters.

There was a sudden slam noise and every head turned towards the portrait door.

Fred was surprised to see Kellah standing at the entrance, her dark eyes wide and mouth gaping. She let out a small unintelligible shriek, flapping her hands. She must have followed him in an effort to escape McGonagall.

Within seconds she was inundated with elves offering her drinks and snacks, each clambering over the other in their eagerness.

"Back off guys, it's her first time." Fred shouted, getting up to gently push the eager elves away from the shell-shocked girl. "Alright?" He said gently, "Kellah was it?"

Kellah nodded, her eyes still focused on the busy elves.

"First time seeing a house elf is it?"

"Oh. My. God!" She screeched, and began bouncing on her feet.

Fred recoiled from the loud shout, backing into the wall.

"Christmas elves! I knew it! I knew it!" She jumped forward pointing dramatically at a small elf hovering near her. "Where is Santa?"

Fred could only watch in bemusement as the Girl proceeded to accuse the elves of working for some muggle present deliverer. All while the elves assured her in their high-pitched voices that they 'only works for Hogwarts miss' and 'we does not know a Mr Santa miss'.

A sharp tug on his sleeve drew Fred's attention down to a pair of large brown eyes watching him imploringly.

"Yous food is readys sir. We has taken it to the party room." The elf glanced meaningfully towards the shouting Gryffindor in the middle of the kitchen. "We must prepare for dinner now sir."

"Of course! Right you are, just let me…" He dodged round the tables and firmly grabbed the back of Kellah's jacket, "Thank you all so much for the assistance, we really appreciate it! Have a fine evening ladies and gents."

Kellah was wriggling against his hold and pointing indignantly towards the elves, "But…"

"Would you rather they throw us out themselves?" She stopped fighting him and allowed herself to be pulled into the corridor, grumbling the whole time.

Once they were in the hall, Fred turned to her and held out his hand, "Fred, at your service, Kellah."

She took his hand cautiously and he shook it firmly.

"Love what you did with the staircase Kellah, big fan! My brother and I will want to know how you did that by the way." He shot her a wink, and gestured for her to follow him. He wanted to avoid the main hall entirely so he headed down to the lower level and up a spiral staircase that would plonk them out on the seventh floor.

"Oh, well that's easy. I just threw myself down them."

"You just…?"

"Yep!" She shot her hand out like a rocket and made plummeting sounds. "They have safety features of course, to protect the students. It's all in Hogwarts a history."

"Wow, who knew reading was actually useful?"

"Well I didn't read it myself, but I was panicking about going up the staircase to the Owlery. You know cause it's exposed to the elements and the steps are tiny and slippery. What happens if you fall? How long would it take for someone to find you? You could easily crack your head open and bleed out in moments!"

She was barely stopping to breathe, speaking a mile a minute. Fred didn't know how she was doing it, he was panting from all the steps.

"Right, was there a point?"

"Hmm? Oh right, anyway Hermione said that I couldn't possibly hurt myself because the stairs would catch me. Well no she didn't, she damn near gave me a heart attack that's what she did, but it's one less thing to worry about you know?"

"Granger?"

"Oh yes you know her?"

"Friends with me and my brother."

"Oh how wonderful! Now we can all be friends. This is so great!"

"Yeah." He distractedly stuck his head into the seventh floor corridor, before pulling Kellah quickly along the corridor and behind a tapestry. "This is the most direct route to the Gryffindor corridor."

"Wow you know loads of secret passageways!" Kellah was following very close to his heels, as they moved down the small passage. "Bit dark in here isn't it?" She stage whispered, her voice a little shaky.

Sighing Fred grabbed his wand and whispered "lumos". He almost heard the tension leave Kellah's body as the light enveloped them.

"It's a tunnel."

"The ceiling won't come down will it?" She glanced up worriedly.

He shot her an incredulous look; "It's lasted for hundreds of years, so I think we're okay."

She opened her mouth to say something else, so he quickly cut across her, "So about Hermione, It's her birthday today."

"It is? She didn't say anything! Oh no!"

"Don't worry, we're planning a little surprise party."

"You are? How brilliant!"

"Yeah, so anyway I was gonna go common room and grab some of Hermione's mates, seeing as you're here already, wanna help?"

"Oh I'd love too!" She suddenly looked really sad, "But I haven't got her a present or anything."

"Don't worry about that, the party is the present! I've got George decorating a classroom off the second corridor; the elves have delivered the grub we just have to fetch the guests! Draco is gonna bring her when we have all arrived."

They quickly made their way into the common room, Fred saluted the fat lady as they passed, and Kellah quickly ran across the room and pelted it up the stairs to her dorm room.

Fred spotted Ron and Harry sitting in a corner by the fire, frowning at what appeared to be a horrid mess of parchment and books.

"Alright lads, how's it going?"

Ron squinted at him for a sec, "Hey Fred, think it's time to give up on this shit, don't you Harry?" he said gesturing to their homework pile.

"I can't remember what subject this is supposed to be anymore." The spectacled boy moaned slamming his head into the table.

"Is it due tomorrow?"

"Na, but we thought we'd get it done cause Wood wants Harry to…." Ron suddenly went red and stopped speaking.

"Told you he'd shove a broom up your arse if you told anyone about our new secret weapon did he?"

Fred chuckled, shoving his brother playfully, "Relax I already know, me and George are beaters on the team Harry." He winked, "So we'll make sure you don't get bloodied up too bad."

"Thanks?" Harry whispered; looking altogether horrified at the thought of being bloodied up even a little bit.

"Oh I wouldn't worry about it, nobody's died in years."

Both younger boys weakly chuckled at that, Ron eyeing Harry worriedly.

"Anyway listen, it's Hermione's birthday today and me an George are throwing a little surprise for her. Second floor corridor, first classroom, they'll be cake and fizzy stuff, you lads in?"

"It's her birthday?" Harry said quietly.

"Yeah sounds good, when?" Ron spoke over Harry.

"Bout half an hour, gonna start during dinner." Fred patted Harry's shoulder gently, the lad looked a little pained. "Don't worry Harry, she kept it quiet from everyone. We only knew because of dear Draco."

"Oh, okay…" He still looked a little worried and was fiddling with some parchment absently.

"Look, mate, how about you and Ron go get your other pals and make sure you get down to the party room ay? Then you can make sure Hermione has a great Birthday." He smiled encouragingly at the bespectacled boy.

Ron rolled his eyes letting out a huff, "Come on Harry, let's go, before Fred gets any sappier."

They both trundled off to their dorm as Fred and Ron waved their middle fingers at each other. "Twat" Fred shouted gleefully after his brother.

"Wanker."

Fred sat waiting on the sofa for about three minutes before deciding that the kids could make their own way down, he'd go see if George needed any help.

Turns out George already had help.

Fred strolled into the 'party headquarters' to find a group of Slytherin first years moving with purpose and organisation. A small pale girl with a severe black bob was loudly directing her 'minions', waving her wand in short stabbing motions with an air of authority.

Fred watched in bemusement as they scurried around her, rearranging the tables, food platters and decorations. She spotted him quickly and, turning her stubby nose in the air, scathingly inquired as to why he had returned without bringing the wireless or at least a gramophone.

"I'm Fred, I assume you mean George?" he said with a smile.

"Oh Morgana, there's two of you?" She sighed before indicating that he assist a young black boy with hanging a large banner that had the flashing words 'Happy Birthday Hermione' on them.

Blaise, for that was the lad's name, said they'd got some older students to help them make it when he enquired about the charm work.

"Impressive, Slytherins got skills."

"Of course." Blaise was looking quite smug.

George stumbled into the room suddenly, disrupting the organisation, his legs buckling under the weight of a very large gramophone. "Where'd ya want it Parkinson?" He yelled, wobbling in place.

A couple of big beefy Slytherin boys ran forward to help him support the base, and Parkinson directed them into a corner where she'd left a space.

A few minutes later and the gramophone had been synced up to the WWN, music by Spellbound blasting into the room.

The Gryffindor girls and boys arrived shortly after, Ron immediately grabbing some snacks and shovelling them into his face, and Harry approached Fred smiling happily.

"Hey Fred, Blaise." He glanced around eyes wide. "It looks like someone let off a super explosive party popper in here. I like it."

Fred wasn't really sure what a party popper was, but if it made mess and exploded he was all for it, "Thanks Harry, I let George decorate. He has quite the creative flair. Although It looks like Parkinson took over in the organising after I left."

"That's really nice of her."

"Loves a party, does Pansy." Blaise chuckled, "Any excuse to boss people around."

They all laughed, grinning and watching as the others bounced around.

"She's coming! Hide!" Kellah screeched running into the room waving her arms.

"There is nowhere to hide you dope!" The blonde girl from earlier yelled back, she looked a little less green now.

"Oh yeah."

The room fell into silence as George held up the needle on the gramophone; they fidgeted restlessly as they waited for Hermione to come in.

"You sure you saw her?" Daphne drawled when nothing happened for a minute.

"Yes, now shush! I hear them!" Kellah smushed her hand into Daphne's mouth and the blonde girl let out a muted sound of disgust.

The door creaked open slowly.

As soon as Hermione was visible in the doorway the room exploded into sound. George dropped the needle and music came blasting into the room as people yelled happy birthday and jumped up and down in excitement.

Hermione's face was one of total shock before she began laughing and hugging everyone, her eyes shining.

They had a bunch of party games organised, including; pin the tail on the Hippogriff, knock down gnome, giant snakes and ladders (with moving snakes), flying seahorse fishing and an old muggle game called Twister.

Neville was setting up the gnome skittles in the corner with Blaise whilst everyone was excitedly moving around the party room. Making eye contact with Draco, Fred gave him a 'thumbs up' and a wink. The boy responded with a wide grin.

He checked his watch; they had hours of fun until they'd have to run back to the dorms.

"Right!" piped up George, "Who wants to play knock down gnome?"