'Magic tumbled from her pretty lips and when she spoke the language of the universe—the stars sighed in unison.'

Michael Faudet

Invisibility cloak in tow, Darcy and Emily sneak up to their empty dormitory at eleven o'clock the following evening. Once up there, they change into more suitable party garb, slip their shoes on, and Darcy throws the cloak over them. The dormitory is still empty, giving Darcy the impression that she and Emily will be the last to arrive at her own birthday party. The cloak just barely glides above the ground, but covers them completely, rendering them, truly, invisible. Huddled very close together underneath it, they shuffle awkwardly down the staircase and into the still full common room. It's mostly sixth and seventh years finishing games of Exploding Snap and clearing up their finished homework, but none of them realize Darcy and Emily sneaking right by them. They don't even notice the portrait hole open and close quickly behind them.

They bypass the prefect's fifth floor bathroom, moving hurriedly down the stairs. "I expected more teachers," Darcy pants as they reach the fourth floor. "With Sirius Black on the loose…"

"Don't jinx it."

They stop abruptly on the third floor when Darcy's hair gets tangled in Emily's earring. Emily gasps as her earring tugs her ear and she hurriedly unwraps Darcy's red hair from around her ear. Darcy hears a tearing noise and looks sideways at Emily, but before she can ask any questions, Emily whispers, "Don't worry. It'll grow back."

"I told you not to wear those earrings," Darcy hisses as they press on. She reaches behind her head, feeling the spot where Emily has ripped her hair. "God forbid we actually run into a teacher—imagine getting those earrings stuck in Snape's hair. You'll have to just throw out the whole earring then."

"I wouldn't get near enough to let that happen in the first place," Emily snaps.

Darcy and Emily round a corner in a first floor corridor and freeze when they hear footsteps echoing around them. Momentarily forgetting they're invisible, Emily grabs Darcy's arm and pulls her behind a suit of armor standing sentinel against the wall. Darcy holds her breath, waiting for someone to show themselves. Holding onto Emily's hand, Darcy pulls her away from the wall to watch whoever is walking towards them.

Surprisingly, it's Snape who turns down the corridor, holding something in his hands. He's walking slowly, shoulders slumped, but his long strides carry him across the corridor floor rather quickly. He doesn't so much as glance in their direction.

"Speak of the devil…" Darcy breathes in Emily's ear. "It's like you say his name and he just appears."

Snape continues to move past them and when he walks directly in front of them, Darcy and Emily lean forward curiously to see what he's carrying, but it's much too dark to see what's in the goblet. Whatever is in it, however, is smoking. In Darcy's ear, Emily tries desperately to smell whatever potion he's carrying, but neither of them can detect any scent, sweet or foul. Thankfully, Snape doesn't notice them, invisible, standing only a few short feet away and he makes it to the end of the corridor undisturbed before taking a right.

"That was weird, right?" Emily asks when they're sure Snape is far enough away from them.

"Whatever," Darcy mutters, pulling Emily along. "Important thing is that he didn't see us…"

They run the rest of the way to the kitchens, the cloak flapping around their ankles and revealing their shoes. Emily allows Darcy the honor of tickling the pear outside the entrance to the kitchen and in a few seconds, the door shuts behind them and they throw off the Invisibility cloak. The house-elves, ambling around the kitchen, startle easily, but when they see who it is, instantly become relaxed again.

The house elves are ecstatic to have kind visitors and load them up with sweets and leftover chicken, large bowls of stew, butterbeer, and bread. Darcy and Emily thank them profusely, but with their arms full of food, they have to sneak out under the cloak as the house elves look for more food to give them. Darcy convinces Emily to leave the stew behind ("Why are you bringing the stew?" "It's good!" "It's stew. We're having a birthday party, not a damn potluck."), and Emily mutters sourly, leaving the bowl just outside the kitchen door for someone to clean up later.

Darcy and Emily walk slower than before up the stairs and make sure that Snape is nowhere to be found on the first floor before speeding up the stairs, dropping a few rolls behind them, not bothering to go back. "At least the mice will have something to eat tonight…" Emily mumbles, keeping up with Darcy's long strides.

At last, outside the prefects bathroom, out of breath and with stitches in their sides, they take off the cloak. Darcy hides it just outside the bathroom, behind an empty suit of armor. Emily gives the password and the door opens just enough for them to sneak in and shut it quickly behind them. At once, their faces light up.

There are already several people inside, talking loudly and wide grins plastered to each of their faces. "Happy birthday!" they all shout, before swarming Darcy and Emily, picking food out of their arms. The elongated baths are full of colored water and bubbles of all shapes and sizes, and several opened bottles of whiskey, elderflower wine, and champagne litter the floor.

"Finally," Carla's voice sounds from the opposite side of the bathroom. She's seated in the bath with some friends, long, dark, curly hair flowing around her, giving her the appearance of a glowing, bronzed mermaid. In her hand is a tall glass, almost overflowing with bubbly champagne, and with her other hand, Carla beckons them towards her. "Did you get lost or what?"

"We supplied all the food you'll need after you finish that glass of champagne," Darcy teases, slipping her clothes off and getting into the water. The Hufflepuff across from her pours her a small bit of whiskey before handing Emily a cup of wine.

"Anyway," Carla says quickly, her cheeks turning pink. "These are my friends, Donna and Tina—both in my year. Donna, Tina—this is Darcy and Emily."

"This may be the first time we've been formally introduced, but I think just about everybody knows who you are, Darcy," Tina shrugs, pouring more wine for a few more friends. She smiles sweetly at Darcy and Emily. "Pleasure to meet you two, and happy birthday, Darcy."

"Thanks."

Donna, a Ravenclaw girl Darcy's never met before now, raises her glass high above her head in greeting and a little wine sloshes over the rim. "Shame that little brother of yours couldn't make it," Donna smirks. "I was looking forward to meeting him. Though, I'm sure he's tired of making the rounds? He is a sweetheart, isn't he?"

Darcy opens her mouth to speak, but Emily interrupts, allowing Tina to top off her glass of wine while she speaks. "Darcy likes to keep that boy locked up in the common room if she can help it," she glances sideways at Darcy, who's smiling. "I'd be shocked if Darcy ever allowed Harry to come to one of our functions."

"You make it sound so classy," Darcy shoots back. "As if we haven't just snuck into a bathroom to drink after curfew."

"Calling it a 'function' makes me feel better about all the underage drinking," Carla snorts. "I don't think a teacher would call it the same thing."

"Regardless," Tina says. "Having the Boy-Who-Lived attend one of our functions would make for excellent conversation."

"He wouldn't enjoy it as much as we would," Carla replies. "He's awfully humble, isn't he, Darcy? That or just insanely overwhelmed."

"One of them has to be humble," Emily nudges Darcy in the arm. "But I'm sure being overwhelmed does have something to do with it. Anyway, let's go make the rounds. Looks like there are plenty of people with gifts and I'm hoping they're more alcohol."

Darcy receives hugs from some fellow Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, as well as Gemma the Slytherin, who waves her wand to create a tiara just for Darcy. With a rousing chorus of 'Happy Birthday', Gemma raises her glass of firewhiskey and shushes everyone.

"I'd like to propose a toast!" she shouts excitedly. "To Darcy—an extraordinary friend and witch. Happy birthday!"

Blushing furiously, Darcy thanks everyone.

Many of the gifts are, in fact, more bottles of alcohol, which Darcy allows Gemma to open when the bottles start emptying. Emily promises her gift when they return to the common room; Carla's is a box of brand new quills; Gemma's deviated from the usual bottle of firewhisky and, instead, has gotten Darcy her own wine goblet, decorated with crimson rhinestones around the lip. Darcy thanks them each in turn.

To Darcy's surprise, even Oliver Wood turns up, already red-faced and drunk. His droopy eyes find her quickly from his corner of the bathroom and Darcy greets him politely. "Thank you for coming, Oliver," she grins.

"Anything for you, Darcy. Happy birthday."

A few hours and drinks later, people start filtering out of the bathroom at intervals, not wanting to draw suspicion from any teachers roaming the halls. Tina and Donna leave quite early, leaving their nearly empty bottles behind for anyone to finish off. Darcy and Emily are some of the tipsiest in the bathroom, Carla a close second, while Gemma holds her alcohol as well as she always has. When just a few remain behind, the four of them feel free to discuss simple matters without worrying about eavesdroppers.

"I'm only saying that it's weird Snape would just be carrying goblets full of potion around so late at night," Darcy slurs, talking with her hands and spilling wine into the bath water. "Unless he's having a secret affair—"

"With who?" Gemma asks, throwing her head back and laughing. "Who in their right mind would want a piece of that?" She reaches behind her, grabbing some cigarettes from the pile of her clothes and placing one in Darcy's mouth before lighting her own.

Emily stares at Darcy, unable to hide her smile. "You're really reaching for an excuse now," she shrugs. "That's the very last reason I'd think of for him to be wandering around the castle this late."

Darcy shakes her head, offering the cigarette to Emily. "Well, we were wandering around the castle—"

"I highly doubt Snape was sneaking off to party with his friends," Gemma adds, sinking down further into the bath water and closing her eyes, swirling her cup of wine.

Carla nods slowly, eyes bloodshot and heavy. "But you don't even know what it was," she answers, shaking her hair out of her face. Water splashes Emily and she sputters. "It could have just been a drink—maybe he ran out of glasses."

"It was smoking," Emily corrects her. "And I wasn't about to get any closer to it to find out. He probably would've smelled Darcy's perfume."

"If he was going to smell one of our perfumes, it would have been yours," Darcy snaps, sounding overly offended. "And I forgot to tell you how much I hate it."

"No, you haven't forgotten," Emily scoffs. "You've told me plenty of times, don't worry, including when I put it on in the dormitory not too long ago."

"How many more times do I have to tell you until you get rid of it?" Darcy groans. "That's what you should have done for my birthday gift."

"I'm not getting rid of it!"

Gemma smiles. "Is that the perfume I got you for your birthday last year, Emily?" She takes a dramatic drag of her cigarette.

"Yes!"

Darcy finishes her cigarette, putting it out on the ground. "When you wake up tomorrow and can't find it, then, don't blame me."

"How does it feel, Darcy?" Carla asks her gently. "To know this is the last birthday you'll celebrate here?"

Darcy's smile fades slowly as she thinks hard about it. The alcohol prevents her from thinking too hard, but she tries. "It's sad, I guess," she answers with a shrug of her shoulders. Darcy fingers the ends of her red hair that contrast heavily against her milky skin. "I wish I could do it all over again, you know? I'd do anything to be a first year, waiting to be Sorted again."

The four of them are quiet, sipping their drinks and appreciating each other's company, reflecting on their past years at Hogwarts. "Do you remember the day we met?" Carla laughs weakly, reminiscing. "I was one of the smallest first years, tripping over robes too big for me, holding too many books at a time."

"You ran right into me," Darcy chuckles. "Nearly knocked me over."

Carla inhales deeply. "You three have been such wonderful friends to me," she whispers. "I'll miss you next year."

Carla looks down at her wrist for a few seconds, squinting her eyes trying to read the time. At once, she stands, splashing more water into Darcy's glass and muttering under her breath about curfew. Darcy, Emily, and Gemma laugh, as it's already hours past curfew, but Carla still jumps out of the bath and wraps her robes around her, stumbling slightly on the slippery ground. "This is a safety hazard," she grumbles to herself.

"I'll be sure to let Filch know before our next party," Darcy calls after her as Carla makes her way to the door. "See you tomorrow!" Carla looks over her shoulder, but doesn't seem to register what Darcy is saying as she vanishes out of sight back into the corridor.

"I should be getting back too," Gemma groans, shaking her hair free of water and soaking Emily and Darcy. She pulls herself from the bath gracefully, drying herself with her wand and sliding back into her clothes. "I'll see you guys tomorrow. Happy birthday, Darcy."

"Thanks for everything."

At long last, Darcy and Emily are the only ones left in the bathroom, and while they've given up drinking more, they still break out into fits of giggles and talk in what sounds like broken English due to inebriation. When the last drops of wine have been drained from their goblets, Darcy and Emily stand up and dry themselves off, slipping their clothes back on. People have trodden on them with wet feet and their sweaters are soaking wet still, but neither of them seem to notice.

They take a look around the bathroom, taking in the sight. It's a mess—cigarette butts float on the surface of the still bath water, empty bottles and broken cups lay all over the ground. Too drunk to even think about cleaning it all up, Darcy and Emily make sure their clothes are on right, their wands are in their pockets, and they leave the bathroom, making sure to shut the door behind them. Darcy feels slightly guilty, but is far too tired, drunk, and lazy to clean up after themselves.

Darcy rushes for her Invisibility Cloak behind the suit of armor, fumbling for it. She throws it over herself and Emily and once it falls over them both, the smell of stale smoke and drink consumes them. Emily nearly gags and they begin to walk through the corridors, back towards Gryffindor Tower. They laugh at each other quietly, walking arm-in-arm with each other, barely able to see in the dark hallways, tripping over each other's feet, not caring that the Invisibility Cloak is showing off a few inches of Darcy's legs, flapping as they move.

It isn't until they hear someone call, "Who's there?" that they begin to panic.

"Shit! We were so close!" Emily hisses in Darcy's ear. Darcy moves her head away quickly, afraid of getting tangled in Emily's earring again, and Darcy almost laughs when she sees it's missing.

"Who do you think it is?" Darcy asks quietly, moving closer to the end of the corridor, exactly where the voice is coming from. Footsteps sound around the corner and she sighs heavily. "I'm too drunk to run away right now—let's just stay still with the cloak—it's not like he'll find us."

"No, take it off—they already know we're here!" Emily fights back. "If they catch us with the cloak, you'll lose the cloak! I'd rather just do a few detentions than lose that treasure."

Darcy hesitates, but finally pulls the cloak from them both, bunching it up into a large ball and throwing it to her side. "You're right, you're right…" It hits the wall silently and slides to the ground, hiding itself among the shadows just as someone rounds the corner and a lit wand tip appears right in Darcy's face.

She winces, shielding the light from her eyes, and looks up to find Professor Lupin staring down at her and Emily, eyebrows knitted in confusion. He moves his wand away from Darcy and cocks an eyebrow, waiting for an explanation as to why they're walking around Hogwarts, soaking wet, in the dead of night.

"Good evening, Professor," Darcy says, smiling crookedly at him. "We were just going back to our dormitory." She grabs Emily's arm and goes to pull her past Lupin, but Lupin puts a firm hand on Darcy's shoulder, giving her a gentle push back in front of him.

Finally, Emily seems unable to contain herself. "It's Darcy's birthday," she blurts out.

"And I'm very glad to see she's spending it in such wonderful company, but I don't think that quite justifies your situation." Lupin smiles sympathetically at the two of them, holding his hands behind his back. "Madam Pomfrey told me it would be a good idea to watch the corridors tonight. She seemed to think there would be something going on tonight."

"Of course, she'd know it's your birthday," Emily whispers, and the two of them giggle softly again.

"I take it this is a common occurrence?" Lupin asks. "And here I thought you ladies model students." This makes all three of them laugh awkwardly.

Darcy and Emily look at him. The smiles have vanished from their faces, but Lupin doesn't seem to be at all angry. On the contrary, he looks slightly amused. His eyes look tired and heavy, his face paler than usual, the pink scars on his face more pronounced in the wandlight. Hair tousled, Lupin runs a hand through it exasperatedly, messing it up even more.

"Do you have… anything to say for yourselves?" Lupin asks again, and when his question isn't answered, he leans in towards the girls and sniffs. "You smell—terrible."

"It's her perfume!" Darcy announces suddenly, leaving Emily blushing and looking mortified. "I told her it stinks—I hate it."

"No, it's—it's not—no," Lupin sighs, defeated, and smiles more warmly. "Go back to your dormitories and go directly to sleep. I expect that if I give you ladies a detention now, you won't remember it tomorrow morning."

"A detention?" Emily scoffs. "But—it's her birthday. You can't give her—us—a detention for her birthday."

"I'm afraid I haven't bought a proper gift, so a detention it is." Lupin tilts his head and laughs, shaking his head at the sight of him. "Just—enjoy your night, ladies, and we'll discuss this further tomorrow."

Darcy and Emily stay where they are, eyeing the Invisibility Cloak. Darcy isn't about to just leave it lying in the hallway for anyone to take, but she doesn't want Lupin confiscating it, either. Lupin crosses his arms, a clever smile stuck to his face—he isn't above to move, either. Grumbling, Darcy and Emily rush past him, planning on coming back for it as soon as Lupin leaves the area, but before they hurtle around the corner of the corridor, Lupin calls out to them.

"Darcy?"

Darcy looks over her shoulder at him. "Yes, Professor?"

"Happy birthday."

She pauses, glancing at Emily before answering, "Thank you, sir."