OOO

"Say Draco? You know how you're going to hang out with Susan and the 'Puffs?" Days later, after another picnic, Draco's birthday was nearly upon them. As they got ready for bed, Harry played with a Quidditch action figure while Draco buttoned up his pajama top.

"That sounds like the name of a band; but never mind that. Let me guess – you want out of it?"

Harry flashed him a grin. "How'd you know?"

"Psychic." Draco winked. "But not really. I heard you guys talking about my present a few days ago – you weren't exactly subtle you know. And that's fine. I promise not to peek at any packages you bring back or harass you about it."

"Can't argue with that I suppose."

"It better be good, though," Draco teased. "It's not every day that a boy turns twelve. Last year before I become a rotten teenager and all that." He pulled on his pajama pants and glanced at Dobby, who was in the corner putting freshly cleaned clothes into the drawer. "Say Dobby? Do House Elves have birthdays?"

"Oh yes, young master. But we don't celebrate them." He closed the drawer. "Wouldn't be right, giving ourselves airs." He didn't elaborate but seemed vaguely disappointed by this.

Draco grinned a little, patting the covers so that Dragon jumped up on them. "When's yours, Dobby?"

Dobby flushed. "Why would young master be wanting such information?"

"Come off it, Dobby. You know I like you. Maybe I want to give you something."

"Yeah." Harry nodded to back up him. "Let us know and we can celebrate it."

"Cake and everything. Promise."

"Young masters Potter and Malfoy are too good!" He wailed all of a sudden, hugging Draco first and then Harry.

"You haven't even told us when it is yet!" Draco laughed and gasped for breath after he let go.

"June 28th, master," he answered with a deepening blush.

"Near mine, then."

"Yes, young master." He shifted his feet. "Dobby has work he must be doing." He crept towards the door and, one small hand on the frame, turned back. "Young master doesn't have to be giving Dobby anything; but Dobby knows he is stubborn. Do remember master – you aren't supposed to be giving clothing. Anything but that."

Draco's smile wavered but he nodded. "I'll remember."

Dobby vanished with a crack and Harry sighed.

"Guess I'd better get to my own bed."

"Only if you want to get any sleep tonight. Remember, you have a couple of very important days coming up and starting tomorrow." Draco's smile broadened again. "I mean, you will be picking out my present; and that takes some care."

"To be honest, I think Luna knows what to get already. She said something to Ginny about… well, you'll see, I guess, when the time is right. But it is getting late, so I'm off."

He shut the door and disappeared down the hall, leaving Draco alone save for Dragon. Giving the dog one last, fond pat, Draco puffed out the candle on his bedside table and immersed them both in darkness.

OOO

The following evening, when they returned, Harry noticed immediately that Draco was somewhat out of sorts but Draco whispered to him to wait until after dinner to talk. Draco pulled him up to his room, shut the door firmly and threw himself onto his bed, exasperated.

"What is the point," he drawled, "of having a secret if it isn't actually secret from anybody?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Susan knows."

"Knows?"

"About Dragon!" Draco retorted impatiently but quietly. "Do I have to spell it out for you?"

"Susan?" Harry frowned. "How'd she figure it out?"

"She was at the Ministry," Draco whispered, "and overheard some stuff and wanted to ask me to confirm. By this time she'd already told Hannah too, of course."

"And Ernie?"

"Well we very well couldn't keep it from him too, could we? Not if Susan and Hannah knew."

"They don't seem like the type to talk though. I mean, that's part of why you got into Hufflepuff, isn't it? Dependability in keeping secrets and all that?"

"That's not the point." Draco rolled his eyes as if he couldn't believe Harry was being so dense. "The point is… point is that you know the saying three can keep a secret if two are dead? By my count we're almost up to ten. And that's not including adults."

"I'm sure it will be fine." Harry gave him a reassuring pat. "I mean, it's not like the rest of your housemates are going to be involved in any serious conversations with your parents anytime soon, is it? And you did tell them not to tell, right?"

"Of course I told them to keep quiet. Just… argh!" He stood up impatiently and paced. "I thought I was better at keeping things quiet than this."

"You're worrying too much," Harry laughed. "Yes, it's a good number of people. But nobody we can't trust. And that's important isn't it?" His shoulders rose and fell in a casual gesture. "I think it's a positive sign. Means we have more close friends."

"I guess. I'm still nervous. I mean, you can talk about friends and trust and all. They aren't your parents."

"Fair enough," Harry conceded.

Draco took out his own wizard chess set and they began a casual game, each more interested in prodding their pieces to shout at one another than making any actual progress towards winning.

"Theo would have had this game sewn shut already, you know." Harry watched his knight make a rude gesture at Draco's rook.

"Ernie too." Draco sighed. "Can't focus though."

"Still worried about things? About your parents?"

"Yeah. We're going out tomorrow, you know. I convinced my dad to step out into Muggle London for a moment in lieu of a present, before we go out to dinner. Thought I'd get him to try something new, see if he likes it." He shrugged as he traded pawns with Harry. "Don't suppose it will be any use. He's probably too set in his ways for anything Muggle to have any shot at amusing him. But hope springs eternal and all that good stuff that's in Theo's poems."

"You'll get to have a party with us the day after, though. And that will be fun." Harry grinned as his bishop took another pawn. "Mrs. Weasley is already planning the cake. It's probably going to be about five stories high. And your present…" He chuckled and leaned across the board to pat Draco's shoulder. "Don't know if your parents will like it. But I'm betting you will."

"With a description like that, I don't know how I'll get any rest." Draco returned the smile. "Can't I have even a little hint?"

"I thought we agreed no hints?"

"Oh, come on. Just a little one…" He motioned for a rook to move.

"Absolutely not! We agreed. Not even a little one. And it's no use looking at me like that, Draco – I'm not going to tell. I'm not your mum; don't think you can use that look on me."

"I was hoping…"

"Then sorry to disappoint, but no."

"Come on, Harry, be fair! Not even a tiny, miniscule, barely understandable hint?"

"Look down."

Draco saw his king backed into a corner and threw his hands up in defeat. "I just can't win tonight!"

"And since that's game, I think I'm going to bed." He stood up from the game board and backed out into the hallway. "End of discussion," he finished with a wink.

"Argh!" Draco looked over at Dragon. "Life is really unfair sometimes, you know that?" Then he sighed. "I suppose you do. I do wish Harry had given me at least something to go on, though. Now I'll be up all night thinking about it," he grumbled as he stood and went to go brush his teeth.

OOO

Ron sat next to Pansy on the lawn and watched as a number of wizards levitated a tent into position. The sun warmed his skin and, laying down on the grass, he felt like he could easily fall asleep.

"Pleasant, isn't it?" Pansy murmured beside him.

"Peace and quiet… it's a nice change. And I like it here. It's very refreshing."

"Bath is a lovely place. People come here for the atmosphere, you know."

"And the weather will be alright for the party tomorrow?"

"Clear as crystal. It will be a beautiful day."

"Assuming nothing goes wrong…"

"And what could?" She laughed. "Trust me Ron, it will be absolutely iridescent." She stood up and brushed bits of grass off of her skirt. "Now, come along, before we get sweaty or dirty. The men can finish up out here. And we need to try on our outfits for tomorrow, to make sure that they fit for the party."

Ron was not particularly eager to have to sit still for an extended length of time and be poked with a bunch of pins, but he dutifully followed. He hadn't even really seen his outfit yet. Pansy had taken his measurements before they went out shopping then purchased clothing for him while he spent time looking at the latest in broomsticks.

When he got inside and put it own, however, he had to admit – he was impressed. Even without the precise fitting, he could tell it suited him much better than even the nicest clothes he'd borrowed for their dancing lessons. Beneath there was a white shirt, immaculately white. Over this was a vest that came down and cut away in the front with a lengthy tail in the back. This matched the pants; both where a deep green, trimmed with silver, with a snake motif embroidered in green into the cuffs of the shirt and in silver along the edges of the vest.

"Striking," Pansy murmured when she glimpsed him from the door, a billowy green dress in her arms. "It sets off your hair perfectly. You will be the talk of the party."

"Thanks," he managed to squeak, still entranced by his own reflection as Mrs. Parkinson went around him, making little adjustments.

"There!" She declared with a wave of her wand a while later. "I'll make the final adjustments and it should fit perfectly for the party."

"Thanks Mrs. Parkinson," he murmured.

"Looks like a proper Slytherin prince, doesn't he?" Pansy was now changed into her own dress, a floaty confection that sparkled, gauze and taffeta shot through with silver.

"Indeed he does," Mrs. Parkinson smiled while Ron blushed and stumbled off to change back into his every day clothes. "Now come dear and I'll fix you up too." She leaned into her daughters each. "Didn't I teach you well, darling?" She whispered.

"Of course, mother," Pansy smiled. "And this is only after a short while. I admit, even I was a bit skeptical at first. But he was willing and I must admit – he really does seem to have potential."

"As long as you have things well in hand, though, you should take care not to neglect others. Keep your options open." She marked a place on the dress to take it. "That Zabini boy, for instance…"

"Blaise?" Pansy chuckled. "Narcissist."

"And this is a bad trait?"

"He would never pay attention to me."

Mrs. Parkinson couldn't resist laughing. "Fair enough, darling. Fair enough."

OOO

"It was lovely of you to come over to help with the cake, Luna dear." Mrs. Weasley removed another layer of the cake from the oven and went over to where Theo was mixing icing to inspect. "A little more yellow, I think, dear. We want the color to be nice and deep." She set the cake on the table and turned to Luna. "As I was saying, we don't see near enough of you. You live so close but you children are always off on your own, I never get to see you! And how is your father?"

"Daddy is very busy," Luna informed her as she swirled black icing with yellow on top of another layer of cake. "He has a lot to do with editing the paper. And he's planning a special on erumpets that he's got to do research for."

"Well that's… lovely." Mrs. Weasley gave her a smile and looked at Theo with a raised eyebrow; he only shrugged in return with a bemused expression. "Where is Ginny, by the way?"

"She wanted to read a book or two of mine so she's probably off doing that." Theo began icing a layer of his own. "I didn't think it would be a problem. Too many books and all that."

"Oh, it isn't. I was just wondering – hard to keep track of everybody you know," Mrs. Weasley sighed as she wiped her hands off on her apron. "Well, I think all the cake we'll need is baked and you two have been doing a lovely job of icing it. I suppose all that's left is to make sure all the layers are in place and put in some candles!"

"I brought flowers too," Luna interjected modestly. "From my mother's garden. I thought we could arrange them around the cake."

"What a lovely thought! Yes, I think that would work quite well." She clapped her hands together. "Well then, let's get this cake finished!"

Ginny came down the stairs not long after, a copy of the Inferno in hand. "They, I have your… whoa."

In front of her was a two foot high stack of cake, some chocolate some yellow, iced in yellow and black swirls with what seemed to be a badger on the top of it. Candles were sticking out of various places in it and all around it was flanked with yellow hyacinth blossoms.

"Think he'll like it?" Theo grinned.

"I… I think so," Ginny nodded, awed. "He'll like the present better, though."

Theo burst out laughing and Mrs. Weasley looked at them strangely.

"Present? You didn't bring anything home the other day. What did you get him? Can I see it?"

"Oh it's a Luna's house for now. It's a surprise – but let's just say we had a little help from Hagrid." Theo winked and Ginny and Luna traded looks and giggled.

"You three…" Mrs. Weasley looked at them suspiciously.

"Four," Theo corrected. "Harry helped too; so remember that when you see it tomorrow. Oh! And he'll be staying here tonight – Draco has his birthday dinner with his parents."

She sighed. "Why do I have the feeling this birthday surprise is going to give me a heart attack?"

"You'll see, mum!" Ginny laughed then gave Theo the book. "It was fun – but do you want to go out and play a little Quidditch in the back yard until Harry gets here?'

"I want to commentate!" Luna volunteered as they ran out the door.

OOO

"I was under the impression that you would be the one interacting with the… the Muggles," Mr. Malfoy finished tersely as he gave his son a withering look.

"No, I said you would. Now come on, dad, you can do this!" He forced a smile. "You just go in and talk like you would to anybody else that you know. It's just the same, really it is."

A strained silence passed between them as Lucius continued to glare and Draco struggled to keep smiling. With a frustrated sigh, Lucius relented.

"This is only because it is your birthday, you understand?" He fingered the sleeve of his 'normal' suit contemptuously.

"I know, I know."

"Do not think that I will be doing this on any sort of regular basis – or, in fact, ever again."

"I know dad. And thank you. This means a lot to me."

"You'd better appreciate it!" Lucius snapped and turned to the door of the bookstore. He hesitated and looked at Draco, who gave him an encouraging nod, and then walked in.

A young teenage sporting blond hair with pink highlights was standing behind the counter looking bored. She snapped to attention when the bell above the door rang and plastered a smile on her face.

"Can I help you with something, sir?"

"Yes." He walked towards the counter with measured steps. "I am supposed to ask you for a book on football."

"Oh. Well, did you have a team in mind or anything?"

"No." A muscle in his jaw twitched. "A book on football. Only that."

"Well, um, ok… I think we might have something, let me look. I'm pretty sure. So you want like a book for beginners or something, explaining it or what?"

"That will suffice!" He snapped.

"Geez…" She grumbled then searched the rack of books, frowned, and then went back into the stockroom. She emerged a few minutes later with a volume in hand. "Here you are! Took a bit but I finally found something on football."

He stood in silence as she checked it out and paid for it with a glare, snatching the bag from her grasp the moment the book and receipt were in it.

"Well don't say thank you," she muttered the moment he was out the door.

"Claire?" A woman stepped out from the music section. "Did I hear something?"

"Customer. Real weird one too. Nasty as anything – and did you see his hair and cane?" She laughed. "Looked like a pimp or something. The cane was a snake, too, I think. Wanted a book on football. It took me a bit, but I found one."

"Took you a bit?" The woman looked confused. "We have a huge section on it, right over there."

The girl's face fell. "Oh. Uh… whoops?"

The elder woman sighed. "You've been here how long? You can't keep confusing things like this!"

"Well how was I supposed to know he meant soccer? I mean… well, you know what I mean. It's only been a couple of months, I'll get the hang of it. Besides, he'll probably return it when he realizes it's not the sport he wants. That'll mean dealing with him again, unfortunately, but I guess that's my fault."

"Just make sure it doesn't happen again. Alright?"

"I'll remember. Promise."

Outside Lucius walked away stonily with his son.

"Did you get a book?" Draco looked at his father.

"Yes."

"Did you look at it?" He asked hesitantly.

"There will be plenty of time to browse it in the privacy of our home!" Lucius told him in an angry tone. "Which I suggest we return to before anybody sees me with this bag."

"Alright," Draco sighed.

Best he could hope for, really, he thought. Might as well get dressed for the evening and make the most of the night.

OOO

A/N: Next chapter – the parties. Complete with a surprise present (that isn't really a surprise if you think about it…)! And the results of that long ago quiz finally begin to become apparent. :)

Also – for those of you interested – the 'romance mix' art is still up for a few more days. Check it out if you want a hint or seven because by March 1, it'll be gone. ;) I hope you enjoyed, if you did I wouldn't mind a review – always appreciated – and as usual the next chapter will be out very shortly.