"You Look beautiful, Walburga." My mother said to me as she walked into my bedroom.

"Thank you, Mother." I said as I turned to look at myself in the mirror.

She was right. I was beautiful. I was an image of perfection with my straight nose and my plump ruby red lips. My sapphire blue eyes shined brightly with my blue dress robes I was wearing and my usually straight black hair fell in waves around my shoulders.

"Happy Birthday." Said my mother as she stood behind me. "I cannot believe that you really are of-age now."

"I know, Mother. It really is hard to believe." I said.

She squeezed my shoulders. "I love you." She said and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "Now, hurry up. Everyone's waiting for you downstairs."

"I love you, too." I said. "I'm ready."

I followed my mother out of my room and was greeted by a round of applause from my guests when I was at the top of the stairs.

"Thank you." I smiled, waved and walked down the stairs as the music started and my guests started to dance. I began to make my rounds to greet everyone. I began with The Lestranges as they were closest to the steps. They had a son, Revelin, who was a good friend of mine.

"Thank you for coming, Mr. and Mrs. Lestrange."

"We would not have missed it." Mr. Lestrange said.

Mrs. Lestrange smiled. "You look beautiful tonight, Walburga."

"Thank you."

"I believe Revelin is over on the other side of the room with Malcolm." Mr. Lestrange told me.

I nodded and continued to make my rounds greeting nearly every prestigious pure-blood family and looking for a particular boy I had invited. I was about to make my way to greet The Rosier family when my mother came and grabbed me.

"Walburga." She said taking my hand. "Orion would like to dance with you."

"But Mother! He's thirteen years old!" I protested. My mother and my Aunt Melania had been planning Orion and mine's wedding since the day he was born.

"But he will make such a fine husband for you." My mother said. "Age won't matter when you're older."

I highly doubted this. Not only was Orion 13 he was also very immature and he liked to brag to all of his friends that he was one day going to be married to the beautiful. older Walburga Black.

"It's my birthday." I said taking her hand if my arm. "I'm not going to dance with him."

"Just once? Please? For me?" She asked and then shoved me towards Orion.

I'm not going to let her get away with this.

"Hello Cousin." Orion said smiling. He was about 2 inches shorter than me. He has dark hair that fell into his stone grey eyes. Probably in a few years he would be very good-looking. But right now? He was a child.

"'Evening, Orion." I said through gritted teeth.

"May I have this dance?" He asked bowing.

I glanced over at my mother who was standing with Orion's parents and they all gave me curt nods.

"Fine." I sighed. As he took my hand and led me to the dance floor.

I danced with Orion for what seemed to be the longest minute of my life until I heard a very familiar voce.

"May I cut in?" The voice from behind me said. Before Orion could answer I was being spun around and into the arms of my best friend, Abruxus Malfoy. "Thank you, Mr. Black." He said.

"Thanks Brax. I owe you." I smiled.

He shook his head. "Not at all. Watching you dance with him was embarrassing for me, as your best friend."

I smiled again as we danced and I began to look around again to see if he had come.

"He's not here, 'Burga." Abraxus said.

"Who?" I asked pretending I had no idea what he meant.

"You know very well who." Abraxus said.

"I wasn't-"

I was cut off by a "Are you actually going to lie to me?" look from Abraxus.

"Right." I said. "I didn't actually think he would be here."

"I don't think he does events like this." Abraxus said trying to make me feel better.

I nodded as the dance ended. The two of us walked over to our close friends Malcolm Rosier and Revelin Lestrange.

As my 3 best friends stood around me, a feeling of happiness that only they could bring filled me up. I looked at all of them and couldn't help thinking how good-looking we all were. Malcolm had light brown hair, green eyes, a distinctly greek nose and a perfect smile. He was one of the best looking and charismatic boys in our year. His best friend, Revelin, was his polar opposite, though just as good-looking. Revelin was a quiet boy with curly brown hair and warm chocolate brown eyes. Then there was Abraxus with his white-blond hair that fell into his turquoise eyes. The three of them were my best friends, my boys, and they made sure I was taken care of.

"Happy Birthday 'Burga." Revelin said giving me a rare smile. "You look beautiful."

"Thanks, Rev." I said.

"So how much magic have you done today?" Malcolm asked.

I laughed. "As much as I could until my mother got annoyed and threatened to take my wand away. Apparently, using magic to open every door and to feed myself was slightly ridiculous. "

They laughed a little. "I got in trouble for apparating from the kitchen to the dining room on my birthday." Abraxus said. The music then changed and Malcolm asked me for the next dance.

It was not a complete secret that Malcolm was in love with me. And maybe I would have liked Malcolm if I had eyes for anyone else other than him. I knew that at least Malcolm would be a more suitable husband than Orion.

"You look really pretty tonight. Not that you don't always look pretty. Just extra pretty tonight." Malcolm said smiling and he drew me in a bit closer as we danced.

"Thank you." I said beginning to feel uncomfortable.

"Are you still in love with him?" Malcolm asked.

I cast my glance downward. "I'm in love with no one."

Malcolm just rolled his eyes. "Right." We danced in silence for a few minutes. "Do you think-?"

"Yes?"

He just shook his head. "Nevermind it's stupid."

I just looked at him. I knew what he was going to say. "I'm sorry."

We finished the dance out in silence and I decided to go grab something to eat. As I walked toward the buffet table I noticed a black owl outside the window, a letter in it's beak. I walked over and opened the window and the bird flew in and stopped in front of me so I took the letter. I opened it. It was in very neat handwriting I did not recognize.

Dear Ms. Black,

I apologize for not being able to attend your birthday celebration this evening. I unfortunately was detained. I would, however, like to thank you for the invitation.

Happy Birthday. I'm sure you look beautiful. You always do.

Tom Riddle

I read that letter over and over that night. And for the rest of the summer I even slept with it under my pillow. He had said I was beautiful. He knew who I was. I believed that this moment was the start of a wonderful romantic adventure. How very wrong I was.