My Birthday…enough said.

Okay, maybe not. But in case you don't remember, my birthday is not a very happy time for me. In fact the only happy birthdays I've had were my fourth when Mum and Father were there and my twelfth when I was in South Africa.

This year, I was sure, wasn't going to be any different from the others.

"Why don't we go see a film?" Raymond asked Maleah over the Wiz-Phone.

Maleah barely kept herself from rolling her eyes. "At the new place in Diagon Alley?"

"Sure."

"No, thank you. I'm just not in the mood to go out," Maleah told her boyfriend.

"Why not?"

"Because my father is a major bounder and I'm on punishment," Maleah snapped.

"Oh. Well then, I suppose I'll call you after you're off punishment," Raymond decided.

"Of course-that is, if I ever get off punishment." Then Maleah hung up.

Maleah knew it was rude but she wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone. She had to sneak into her father's office for her phone when he and Ginny were out just to talk to Ananda but saw she had a missed call from Raymond and called him back.

She had sent back everything she bought when she went shopping without complaint. Of course she kept the white Dolce dress she bought. Her father would know when the bill came, but until then Maleah hoped she would have a chance to wear it.

Her birthday was the next day and she was dreading whatever was going on. Knowing Ginny, she and her father would go out and just leave Maleah with a cold smile. Actually…that wouldn't be half bad. Then she'd be able to run away to Ananda's. But who was she kidding? She didn't have the same guts as Sirius-her brother's namesake.

Finally her curiosity was quenched at dinner that evening. Maleah sat at her usual seat and touched nothing and spoke not a word. It was punishment for her father being such an arsehole to her.

"Won't you eat some potatoes Miz Leah," Miss Tonya begged.

Maleah stubbornly crossed her arms over her chest and tried to ignore the drool threatening to leave her mouth at the scent of Miss Tonya's famous cheesy potatoes. She was feeling a little woozy, but it was a small price to pay when getting revenge.

"We're all going to the country club tomorrow," Harry told the family.

Ginny nodded sullenly.

"I expect you to be well dressed Maleah," Harry said.

Maleah snorted and turned away.

"I mean it."

And the "discussion" was closed.

Well, Maleah considered the next day as she showered, at least she'd get to wear the dress before her father returned it. She scrubbed hair potion into her thick mane of hair and slathered on detangling potion as well. After her shower she stood before the mirror and stared at the long thick mass of raven black hair that fell to her waist and decided it was time for a change. She picked up a pair of scissors and began cutting.

Fifteen minutes later Maleah was satisfied. Then she looked at her face and paled. She was going to have to beg. Trying to prolong her imminent doom, she rubbed moisturizer all over her body and placed Cary-Kate and Ashlina perfume on her pulse points. When she had exhausted all forms of procrastination, Maleah put on her underwear and a robe and tied her hair in a towel. Then she swallowed her pride and walked to Ginny's dressing room.

Ginny opened the door and glared at her. "What?"

Maleah flushed and held up the box she had picked up before she left her room. "No one ever showed me how to put on make-up," she said feebly.

Ginny was floored. She came to her…for help? She could completely ruin the girl and make her hideous but something tugged at Ginny and she let the door widen to allow Maleah in.

Impatiently Ginny waved Maleah to the seat before her vanity and got to work on applying make-up to the girl. When she finished she stood back and acknowledged the emphasis of Maleah's features.

"You're done," Ginny said cattily.

Maleah stood shyly and looked at the ground before meeting Ginny's gaze. "Thank you," she said sincerely.

Maleah was about to walk out when Ginny called her back in.

"I suggest Manolo Blahniks to match the white dress you didn't get rid of," Ginny said with a ghost of a smile.

Maleah flushed guiltily but heeded Ginny's suggestion.

Fifteen minutes later, after Maleah had slipped on her dress and shoes, she stood in front of the mirror and contemplated her new haircut. She straightened the thick mass of curls and curled them gently at the bottom. The tip of her hair now reached about an inch below her shoulder. Maleah shuddered when she thought of Ananda's reaction to the cutting of over six inches of her hair.

She gathered her bearings and went down to the foyer to meet with the rest of the family. Sirius looked dashing in his Suits by Dane suit-a wizarding fashion designer. James was wearing a suit of the same designer as was her father. Maleah could only hope that Ginny wasn't wearing the same designer she was. That would make for a potentially awkward moment.

Ten minutes later the entire family was in the town car heading toward the Wizarding country club that the Potters belonged to. Maleah was dreading the evening because no doubt her father expected her to play nice and smile demurely when she really wanted to rip his head off.

"I wonder what he got you for your birthday," Sirius whispered to Maleah. Maleah was sitting in between Sirius and James while Harry and Ginny sat across from them.

Maleah humphed. "I don't care as long as there's an apology and 'I was wrong' attached to it."

Sirius giggled, but sobered when his mother shot him a look.

"Jump Hot Lips," Maleah murmured causing the nine year old to glare at her.

Ginny watched Maleah as they walked into the country club. She did not notice anything different as they lingered in the front room before Harry led them to the doors of the ballroom. Ginny found herself smiling softly when she saw the look of shock then delight rush across Maleah's face at the sight of all her friends and schoolmates and the banner of 'Maleah's Sweet Sixteen'.

"Daddy!" Maleah cried and jumped into his arms. "Merlin, thank you so much!"

Harry laughed. "It was Ginny's idea."

Maleah composed herself and smiled shyly at Ginny. "Thank you, Ginny."

Ginny waved her hand dismissively. "I just didn't want to blamed if you keel over from lack of nutrition," she said referring to the fact that Maleah had not touched a morsel of food since the blow out.

Maleah grabbed Sirius and dragged him over to where Ananda was standing with Jake and Maria. They each gave her a large hug and the party began with the DJ playing the most recent Tyler Raleveau record.

Hours later, after the cake had been cut, after she snuck out with Raymond to snog for a moment, after she snapped at Michaelson, after Michaelson snapped back, after she danced with her friends, Maleah stood in the front of the room with a sonorous charm placed on her.

"Thank you all for coming," she told the crowd. "It means a lot that you would come celebrate with me. Thank you, Daddy and Ginny for throwing this party for me. Thank you Hot Lips for being the coolest little brother ever! Thank you all for the gifts; I can't wait to open them!"

The crowd cheered and then dispersed. Completely exhausted, Maleah slumped back in the town car and slept the entire way to her house. It was by far the best birthday ever.

This was more of a filler. Next chapter is chock full of humor and drama and romance and erthing like that. Okay, I had an idea in my head to have a chapter based solely on Harry and Katia. In case you forgot, Katia is Maleah's mother. That will be next chapter. Hope you enjoyed it and Ginny is starting be redeemed. Of course, she'll still be snarky-made for a few quesadilla laughs, but she's getting better. I promise.

Plus, funny story, I wasn't going to post this until I got a few more reviews, but I'm currently writing the chapter in which Ginny's redemption is complete and I just NEEDED to post this, becuase I'm really excited about the next chapter (which is SUPA LONG) and the chapter after the chapter after next chapter. Get it? Anyhooz, I just wanted to throw that out there. Review Review!

Oh, plus I wanted to thank Suzy (who is SUPA KOO) for being my HUNDRETH reviewer! I forgot to mention that last chapter! Props to hypa4evr!