The 3rd change - Who knew of my birthday?

I decided that I would find a way of asking Albus if he'd written the notes, or followed me, without trying to sound like I was asking him if he'd written me any notes. Easier said than done.

I bottled out in Transfiguration, there were too many girls surrounding him, but when Potions came around I managed to pluck up the courage.

Albus was making his way back to his desk, Neglegar was rummaging in the store closet and everyone else seemed to be concentrating on their revitalising potion, so once he got in line with my desk I surreptitiously tugged on his sleeve.

He turned slightly, stopping beside my desk.

"Albus, I was wondering if … well how you knew I would be flying that evening?" I had whimped out of my original question, but I suppose I did want to know the answer to that one too.

He looked up for a moment, over my head to focus on something there, before saying, "I guess someone likes to watch you fly."

Okay, so I'm guessing that means someone told him.

"I want to congratulate you on getting the team by the way, I haven't had a chance, you should have come to the party in the common room afterwards." He smiled slightly and made for his desk.

Well that answered that then. So the letter was not from him, or else he would have known I couldn't have gone to the party in my beaten-up state, and he wouldn't have said he hadn't had the chance to congratulate me yet if he'd already done it in a letter.

Once my potion was done, I spent the rest of the lesson pondering on who my mysterious note sender was.

The answer came that night.

I was studying late one evening in the library when a book carefully slid onto the desk in front of me. I glanced up, following the nervous hands holding the book to the rolled up school sleeves to the face of Lily Potter.

I raised my eyebrows in surprise. I waited for her to speak first, unsure as what to call her; Lily or Potter?

"Rose"- Lily it was then - "Can I talk to you?"

"Sure," I said, "sit down."

She sat down heavily, "Gosh you do not know how hard it was for me to say that, I mean can't my parents just let me talk to you!" it was more said to herself than to me, but I stared blankly at her. "Listen Rose, Al and I were talking, we really miss you and, well, we say - stuff our parents, we want our friend back."

I gaped at her, "Lily, I, I don't know what to say."

"I don't expect anything of you yet, I know we've treated you badly in the past, but I thought it would be nice to at least have the last few years here being on speaking terms with you."

I was shocked, "I would like that."

"As much as I would like to disobey my parents, I can't openly hang out with you, well, not all the time. But you'll get to see Albus a lot now anyway with Quidditch, and I'll still speak to you when I can."

Lily seemed to be anxious that I'd be annoyed that she wouldn't be public about a friendship, but how could I be when she was willing to speak to me.

"Lily, right now I'd be happy with anything."

Lily smiled sadly and stood up, but a sudden cheer filled her face as she turned to leave, "I'll see ya around Rosie!"

I smiled, this was more of a breakthrough than I could have imagined, in a week I'd gone from talking to no one, to having actual conversations with a member of my long forgotten family, (that didn't involve the words "can you pass the snakes' fangs") and I'd gotten on the Quidditch team. (Though I'd paid dearly for that one)

So that was the most plausible answer, Lily. A girl cousin is acceptable for three kisses, maybe she was the one who saw me fly…? Nah, she hates evenings alone as I remember rightly, too dark for her.

Albus approached me in Potions two days before my birthday, "Weasley, just want to say that we've got Quidditch practice on Thursday evening. I'll see you there."

I stared at him blankly for a few seconds before saying quietly, "Um, yeah, and tell Lily I say thanks for the letters."

Albus frowned slightly and said, with a hint of confusion to his tone, "She's sending you letters?"

"Um, I assume so."

He shook his head a bit and moved back to his desk, I turned back to my potion, leaning over to grab the pot of Butoboter pus from Malfoy's desk.

The day before my birthday, I received another letter in the morning, the same white ribbon holding it together, but this time with a small package.

The box was long, thin and clearly displayed the slogan 'Sugar Quills'. If I hadn't been at breakfast and was not a keeping-out-of-the-limelight-person, I would have squealed.

My mouth watered just looking at the sealed box.

I stuffed it into my bag and headed off to Transfiguration early, intent on reading the letter in the lesson.

Keeping a careful eye on McGonagall, who was marking essays at her desk, and the two desks either side of me, containing Malfoy (left) and Albus (right), I pulled out my letter, sliding the ribbon off, breaking the slight charm as I did so.

My darling Rose

Rumour has it you love these, just thought I'd send some on to you.

I hope they are as sweet as you.

Love, Your Prince

xxx

Well didn't that throw everything out the window, there in the same flowing script, the same letter style, was someone who was most definitely not my cousin, and they wanted me to know as much.

I realised I'd been staring at the letter for a bit too long when a deep whisper from my left reached my ears, "Weasley, you might want to pay attention!"

I wasn't sure if it was a quip or not, but I still looked blankly at Malfoy, before facing the front, my letter tucked neatly into my bag.

My birthday morning; I was one of the earlier of my year, October 24th.

Every year I received a card from my mother's parents, (they may have cut us out of their lives, but they still recognised their granddaughter), I also had a small gift from my father, proof that he actually remembers that I exist. Presents are usually nothing too personal, but I treasure them all the same.

But this year was different, this year I got something else.

There sat on the end of my bed with my usual card and box from my father (probably containing chocolate frogs), was another smaller box shaped parcel wrapped in brown paper and fastened with a ribbon (a white ribbon nonetheless, indicating as to who sent it) and a card. (I ignored the Ministry sealed envelope that was just informing me I'd turned of age).

I quietly opened the card from my Grandparents, propping it up on my bedside, the chocolate frogs (yes, I was right) were put in the drawer, then, taking a deep breath, I turned my attention to the other gift.

Carefully I slid the card from the envelope, gasping as the front was revealed.

It was a drawing, a sketch, of me.

I marvelled at how detailed it was, the Rose in the picture was leaned over, reading a book, the burred background suggesting the Library.

I wondered how long this must have taken, and why anyone would want to spend that long over a picture of me. I finally managed to tear my eyes away from the amazing sketch and open the card, which was just as confusing as the front.

Happy Birthday my darling Rose

I hope you like the present.

I guess you get little on your birthday, so I thought I could give you something nice, seeing as it is your seventeenth.

Love, Your Prince

xxx

My eyes widened, there written in the neat slanting script was someone who noticed too much about me.

How did this person know I didn't get much for my birthday, how could they know? And why were they taking the time to sketch me?

I pulled at the white ribbon around the box, the brown paper falling off it as soon as the ribbon was clear. I prised open the small black box within and found a gasp escaping my lips once again.

Inside, sat snugly in the black satin lining, was a small silver bracelet, at regular intervals around the chain there were silver hoops, and seven in total spanned it.

I undid the clasp and slipped it onto my wrist, the cool metal against my skin feeling suddenly satisfying.

I smiled at my one true gift, feeling suddenly elated for the first time in a long while (my only small pleasures in life being my results – when I can be good). I shrugged my sleeve down over it, I'd have to be careful not to let it be seen by the 'Steps', but it was defiantly worth it.

I debated on a way to send a reply to this unknown person.

I couldn't find one, but I knew it wouldn't take long to figure out a way, a few hours in the library could solve almost anything.

I could feel my happiness pooling deep within me all day, and I vowed never to take the bracelet off.

Although the initial happiness wore off after a few days, I still felt a small sense of hope tremble inside me every time I glimpsed a spark of silver peaking out of the sleeve of my robe.

AN

Thanks for the reviews people, makes my day.