33

Owl Post

Emily Potter sat in her room, leaning against her headboard as she stared at the flames dancing in the fireplace across the room. The book she had been reading lay open and forgotten on the bed next to her. A tapping at the window caught her attention. Casting a quick tempus as she moved to open the window, allowing the awaiting owls into her room, she noticed it was now midnight. A smile crossed her face she was now officially thirteen.

Of course, Emily was not your average thirteen year old. She was a witch who had finished her second year of magical education at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry just a few weeks ago. It was her second birthday separated from her twin brother Harry who was currently staying with their aunt and uncle in Surrey. He had refused to join her at the Malfoy family manor for a second summer. She missed her brother but they had drifted apart when they began attending Hogwarts. The witch had promised herself after this last year that she would start distancing herself away from Harry, if he didn't wish to be a part of her life after everything she had done, then it was time to start accepting it. Especially after he protected the Weasley girl for the Chamber incident.

Emily was startled from her thoughts when her bedroom door was thrown open by her best friend, Draco Malfoy exclaiming, "Happy birthday!" The blonde threw himself onto her bed, "Mipsy is bringing us some cake to celebrate."

"It's midnight, I could have been asleep," Emily said climbing back onto the bed.

"It's your birthday, you are never asleep at midnight on your birthday," Draco pointed out. Emily turned her head as her door opened again, this time Mipsy entered carrying two plates of chocolate cake.

"Happy birthday Mistress," the elf said handing her a plate with a small bow.

"Thank you Mipsy, I'm sorry Draco made you get up to bring us cake."

Draco snorted as Mipsy energetically replied, "Mipsy is happy to help Mistress on her birthday."

"Well thank you Mipsy. You may go now." The elf bowed once more and popped out of the room. Taking a bite of the cake Emily moaned. "This is delicious," she said pointing to the cake with her fork.

"I know. You should open up your gifts."

Nodding Emily set her plate aside after taking one more large bite and reached for the package closest to her noticing the writing immediately.

Our Dearest Emmykins,

Greetings from Egypt! We would say surprise but we have spied a familiar black owl delivering mail to a certain older curse breaking brother of ours. Sooo, we will just tell you that Egypt is great!

Bill has been showing us around his work sites and we have even gone into a few of the tombs. Sadly, our mom caught us trying to lock Percy in the last one we visited but can you really blame us for trying? He has become unbearable since he received his Head Boy badge. Yes, you heard right our pompous rule loving brother is Head Boy. You can tell we are overjoyed…

We have a few potion recipes that we attached for you to look over. We should be home in a few days. Mom isn't too happy, she wanted to stay another two weeks but Bill is being sent on a private job through Gringotts so we are heading home.

Anyway, we wanted to wish you a happy birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Your favorite magnificent pranksters,

Gred and Forge

Inside the package she found a statue of the goddess Isis who she had named her snake after and the usual pack of blood pops.

"The twinsss got you a statue of your namesssake…" Emily hissed as she got off the bed to put the statue by Isis who was relaxing by the fire on her pillow.

"It looksss funny missstress…" Isis said flicking her tongue out to taste the statue. "It tasstesss horrible…"

"It isssn't food," Emily hissed holding back her laughter.

"Then what do I do with it missstress…"

"You are meant to admire it," Emily replied her laughter partially sounded like hissing as she moved back to the bed.

"What's so funny?"

"She thought the statue was for her to eat."

Draco laughed, "I doubt that would be a pleasant meal. You should keep opening gifts you have a few more people who seem to know your tradition."

"And where is your gift?"

"You get to open it tomorrow when Uncle Sev is here." Emily nodded and opened the next letter.

Em,

Happy Birthday!

I hope your week is going well. I'm looking forward to seeing you again in a few days. I wish I could be there today but I'm sadly stuck visiting my mom's family for the week. It's boring here but I promise to visit again once I'm back.

Yours,

Cedric

Emily passed the note to Draco as she opened the gift. He had sent her a book on Ancient Greek rituals. It looked intriguing, she hadn't studied much into Greek rituals.

"Well he seems to know of your love for rituals in ancient cultures," Draco said taking the book and flipping through it.

"Yeah, it's not a book I have already. It should be a good read. Maybe I can find a book on modern rituals used in Greece and compare them."

"I swear, by the time we graduate you will have a library larger than Hogwarts'."

Emily shrugged as she reached for the next gift. At once Emily noticed the untidy script and smiled.

Em,

Happy birthday! I hope you and Draco are enjoying your summer. I thought you might find this to be useful for one of your classes this year…

Hagrid

Curious as to what Hagrid sent that could be of use in one of her classes, she reached for the parcel unwrapping it to find a green leather book. It seemed to give a shake before snapping at Draco's hand as he reached out to touch it. Shocked Emily and Draco froze staring at the odd book. They quickly recovered as the book began to repeatedly snap at them. The book turned towards Emily and appeared to be moving, she quickly grabbed for her wand stunning it.

She knew Hagrid would never intentionally send her something that could hurt her but while understanding that she reminded herself that Hagrid seemed to not assess danger as most other people did, he seemed to think sending second years into a nest of acromantulas was a safe endeavor.

"What in the name of Merlin did he send you?" Draco breathed.

Picking up the book to examine it Emily responded, "The Monster Book of Monsters."

"Sounds like something he would send," the blonde remarked. "You might want to somehow restrain it because the stupefy will wear off."

"Could I use one of your belts? I think that might be the best option…"

Nodding Draco called out, "Mipsy."

"Really you wake my elf? She already was woken up once by you to bring us cake." Shrugging Draco turned to the elf that had popped into the room and instructed her on what belt she was to retrieve for him. She returned quickly handing the belt to Draco who then passed it on to Emily.

"I'm sorry Draco keeps interrupting your sleep Mipsy, you can get some rest now," Emily said softly to her tired looking elf.

"Mipsy is happy to help Mistress," the little elf said with a bow before popping out of the room.

"You could have woken Tippy. I'm sure he is used to your demanding needs all twenty four hours of the day."

"Ha… ha… ha…" Draco said dryly.

"Oh you're high maintenance and you know it."

"Yes, well, you have one more gift left and if I'm right it is from a certain red haired curse breaker who will be visiting us in a few days."

Emily rolled her eyes at Draco. He loved to tease her about Bill and the multiple letters they sent to each other weekly. He was certain it would only be a year or two before the image Emily had seen in the Mirror of Erised became reality.

Opening the envelope confetti exploded all over her bed.

Em,

Happy Birthday!

I hope you have a great day celebrating with the Malfoys and I hope you know that I expect you to eat an extra piece of cake for me! As for life here in Egypt, not much has changed since the last letter I sent you.

My mom is still upset that her invasion of my home for the entire summer is not possible because I need to do the wards at the manor. Not that I have told her that the job is in England. If I did she would insist that I stay with them at the Burrow and I am ready for some solitude again. I love my family but I forgot how loud everything can be with all nine of us under the same roof.

Charlie I'm used to, he is constantly visiting me on his days off from the reserve and I thought he was loud… I certainly won't be complaining about him ruining my peace on his next visit. Speaking of my dragon taming brother, he is still trying to find out who the mysterious person I am constantly writing to is.

I'd tell him but I find it amusing letting him guess. Fred and George have joined in having recognized Apollo.

I don't know if they told you yet but they tried locking Percy in one of the older tombs. I couldn't stop laughing which only made mom angrier. I really hope I didn't act like him when I was Head Boy.

Yes, I was Head Boy when I was at Hogwarts. And no making fun of me because with your study habits you will probably be Head Girl in your seventh year!

Anyway, I better go. Percy is yelling about something, which means that is Charlie's and my cue to duck out of the house for a bit.

Happy Birthday… again,

Bill

P.S. Enjoy the confetti!

Emily laughed hoping Bill found solace from his crowded house as she began opening the gift he sent. Inside she found a beautiful bracelet that was made of many little silver snakes, in between each snake was a small emerald connecting them together. Emily loved it and quickly showed it to Draco to admire as well. It wasn't much longer before both teens were yawning and curling up under the covers of Emily's bed falling fast asleep.

Miles away on Privet Drive Harry Potter was sound asleep in his bed, a note clutched tightly in his hand…

It's almost midnight, Happy Birthday

Em