Birthday Wishes

Disclaimer: I'm not J.K Rowling.

The droning of an alarm clock woke newly sixteen-year-old Allie from her slumber. As she fumbled for her snooze button her dad barged into her room, crooning to her his best imitation of Marilyn Monroe's sensual birthday song.

" Really dad, you couldn't forget that it's my birthday for once? It's an ungodly hour on a Saturday morning. I honestly envy Molly Ringwald."

"Really Al? I am hurt you don't share my enthusiasm," her dad said faking hurt.

" No, it's not that dad it's just I had a late night and" she trailed off, immediately regretting saying what she said.

"Oh? And how exactly late were you up? And where were you young lady?" his entire demeanor changed in an instant.

"Dad, come on let's not cry over spilt milk. After all, it's my birthday and" again she was interrupted, this time by her mother beckoning them to come downstairs for breakfast.

"We will not forget this discussion, and don't you for one second think this conversation is over. Come down for breakfast before your mother throws a tantrum" he ruffled her hair and nearly tripped down the stairs on his way down.

"Poor dad," Allie thought to herself. He never has been all that graceful, but thankfully her mom had enough poise for the both of them, ten fold. She smiled to herself, thinking how perfect they were together. She was the fire to his ice, always balancing out his vices with her beauty, charm, and intelligence. She was forcefully ejected from her thoughts when she stumped her foot on her laptop. She opened said device and skimmed the page it was currently rested on. She really needed to stop reading so much fan fiction; it was consuming her weeknights when she should probably be out partying. Then again, how could she resist? Her favorite character was Draco Malfoy, but her mother often chided her for being so childish and imaginative. She couldn't help it really; she had always felt a pull to the magical world of Rowling's. She had to admit, she was a complete potter nerd. She closed that tab, and managed to weave through the chaotic mess that was her bedroom floor.

She was bombarded by her older brother Alex asking if they could go skating for her birthday at the mall, and she could only oblige him. The irony of her big, hulk-like brother begging her in a deep baritone voice if they could do something as trivial as ice-skating was all too cute in her eyes, and she couldn't help but indulge him even it were her birthday. Her sixteenth birthday. Probably the most important birthday she would ever have. She caught her parents looking at her with an almost sad look that scared her. That look you give someone when you know there in trouble, but your not allowed to say anything. It was unsettling, to say the least. Her mom caught her eye, and Allie watched as she plastered her smile she only used when Pop-pop and Maw-maw came over.

"Before you and Alex go out, me and your dad have something for you. I know you said you didn't want gifts, but I couldn't help but splurge. It's just one gift, and don't worry it's not a car," her mom ducked into the pantry and came out with something tucked behind her arms.

" I know you already have one, but I thought maybe an improvement would help you. So, happy birthday baby girl," she pulled from behind her back a beautiful, dark red, Martin guitar with the name "Alastrina" printed on the neck of the magnificent instrument. Allie's eyes watered and a flood of emotion took her by surprise. Such extravagance made it feel like her parents were saying goodbye, but regardless she accepted her gift and hugged her mom and dad all the same.

"Thank you so much, it's perfect." And it really was. It blew her old fender out of the water. Allie had taken up music when she was around seven partly because she was having a tough time getting along with the other kids. They were afraid of her really, of the things she was capable of but none of that was her fault. Coincidences, occurrences here and there had the neighborhood whispering every time the Brightman's had a family outing. The old residences would gossip, warning that wherever the Brightman girl went, mischief went. I swear, you blow a birdbath up once or twice and you're a pariah around here, she thought. The thing that had bothered the old folk's were not that she had a violent tendency with bathing places of the avian sort, but that she carried out such tomfoolery without being within ten feet of the affected yard. Now, in her sixteenth year even, the elderly Robinson's would only scowl and shake their heads at her in dislike from the safety of their front porch swing.

. Eh, she thought, who needs old geezer's approval anyway?

She trudged up the stairs to put up her birthday gift in her room, and after getting ready for her outing with Alex; she checked her reflection in her full-length mirror. She was taller than most girls at just about 5'8", and her long dark curls fell to about her mid back. She had a pout to rival that of Movie star's, and her cheekbones were high and angular. Her best feature were her eyes, which were a regal, almond shape. The color was what was captivating though, the edge of her iris was rimmed with a deep jade green followed by a mint green and then just around the pupil bursted the brightest orange in odd places. She had to admit she had her fair share of attention from the opposite sex, but she never had really taken any proposal's seriously. She had kept her innocence and regretted to admit she was rather inexperienced in that field. She had just tried to apply a few coats of her favorite mascara when a voice behind her made her leap with surprise.

"Alastrina, I cannot believe how much you have grown."