On Saturday morning, Poppet hurried down to the kitchens with James. They dashed off together after breakfast, much to the confusion of everyone. They were relying on Albus to invite people discreetly today, as Rose had made it impossible last night. Inconveniently, she decided that she'd sit around with them in the common room instead of going to her usual hang-out place of the library. Poppet had managed to invite Roxanne and Jocelyn later that evening in their dorm and Albus had managed to ask Louis and Dominique but everyone else was clueless. When Poppet asked Albus to be in charge of making sure everyone was there by three, he puffed out his chest in pride and told him that he wouldn't let them down. Poppet just hoped he was right.
After exchanging pleasantries with the elves, Poppet and James were handed over two very large baskets of food. "Also, there is a card and present in there for Miss Weasley, from all the elves in the kitchen," Quirky the elf told them with excitement.
"We'll make sure she gets it," James said, with a knowing smile and he and Poppet dashed out of the kitchen and up to the seventh floor corridor, getting some very odd looks from passers-by. James paced in front of the wall until the door appeared and the two of them entered and began placing the assortment of cakes and treats on the table. There were lemon cupcakes, vanilla cupcakes, gooey chocolate brownies, apple tartlets, giant bowls of Bertie Bott's Every Flavoured Beans, two large Victoria sponge cakes and a large chocolate cake with white icing which had the words "Happy Birthday Rose Weasley" emblazoned on the top in swirly pink writing. Poppet put this cake at the centre of the table. There was also a large pot of tea which Poppet placed on the table and two vast bottles of Butterbeer.
James and Poppet took a step back to admire the table. A smaller table was in the corner of the room under a sign that said "presents". Paper birds of red and gold fluttered around the ceiling. The crest of Godric Gryffindor hung boldly above the fireplace.
"Louis and Dom are going to love this," James rolled his eyes.
"Why's it so Gryffindor-y?" Poppet asked, assuming James had something to do with it as he did make the room appear and all.
"I asked it to create a room fit for a Gryffindor birthday party," James said, looking around, "I think it looks great – if not a little obnoxious."
Poppet nodded in agreement. "So what's the plan, now?"
"You need to get Rose here," James said, plainly.
"Yes – but how?" Poppet asked.
"Oh – I don't know," James shrugged. "Put her under the Imperius curse?"
"Not funny."
"Sorry. Just tell her you want to talk about that tapestry hanging outside on the wall. She loves that old thing," James suggested.
"Sounds good," Poppet nodded and looked down at her watch. It was nearly 2pm. She and James had skipped lunch to set the room up for the party. She was glad she was getting cake this afternoon. "We need to check back in with Al and make sure everyone's coming. Then I'll go and find Rose. I'm assuming she'll be in the library."
"Yes. Almost certainly," James said, "Al will probably be in the common room. Let's head back there."
"Will everything stay intact if we leave? The food won't disappear, will it?" Poppet asked. She had a feeling she knew the answer to this question but she wanted to remain sure.
"It'll be fine. It'll close once we leave so nobody will be able to get in and steal the food and re-open when you or I return. It knows this as Rose's tea party room now - so that's what you have to ask for," James explained.
Poppet nodded in understanding and the two of them left the room and made their way to Gryffindor Tower.
They walked through the portrait hole and came face to face with Albus, who was apparently about to leave.
"Everyone knows," he said, quietly. "We have a visual on the target and she is in the library, studying Care of Magical Creatures."
"Thanks, Al," Poppet smiled.
"Where are you off to?" James asked his brother.
"I was coming to find you two, but I guess I don't have to now," Albus turned on his heels and walked back into the common room. "Found them," he added, lazily to the group of people sat by the fire. Tobias, Blane, Florence, Roxanne, Lily and Hugo all looked up at them and waved.
"There she is!" Tobias exclaimed, tapping the sofa next to him as an invitation for Poppet to sit down. "Thanks for the invitation to your little soiree!"
"Our soiree, actually," James corrected him, bluntly.
"Oh, sorry," Tobias mumbled.
Poppet ignored James' interruption. "That's alright. Hopefully Rosie will be happy with it."
"She'd be mad not to be," James said, interrupting their conversation again. Everyone else was lost in their own individual chats but James didn't seem intent in joining one of those. No, he had to stick his nose where it doesn't belong and Poppet knew exactly why. He wanted to make sure she didn't take all the credit.
"Potter's right," Tobias said, "I bet it's lovely. I'll admit, a tea party isn't really my scene but I wouldn't pass up the opportunity of free cupcakes."
"Don't eat too many. Weight gain isn't good for Quidditch," James said, dryly.
"I don't think it's me you should be worrying about gaining weight," Tobias retorted.
"Boys..." Poppet warned.
"It's just banter, Pops," Tobias said, resting his arm on the back of the chair behind her back.
"It's too much testosterone," Poppet muttered.
At twenty to three, Poppet made her way to the library. She spotted Rose immediately. Having red hair made her very easy to find in large crowds. Poppet made a mental note to thank her about that later. She quickly made a b-line to Rose and sat down on the table opposite her, smiling.
"Hello, birthday girl."
"Oh – hi, Poppet!" Rose said with a faint smile.
"I need to ask you something," Poppet said, coyly.
"Oh yeah? What do you need?" Rose asked. She was distracted.
"I was exploring the castle this morning and I found that large tapestry – you know the one on the Seventh Floor corridor? Well, I've passed that tapestry on so many occasions and it's always been the same but today there were new characters in it. I'm confused, because in 'Hogwarts: A History' it explains that tapestries are unlikely to move so I figured this must be very rare-?"
"It moved?" Poppet now had Rose's full and undivided attention. Poppet smiled. It was like taking a Sugar Quill from a baby.
"Yeah. Do you want to go see? It won't take a moment. Al said you knew a lot about the tapestry."
"Yes – I love it! Let me grab my stuff. We may be there a while!" Rose smiled broadly.
Poppet almost felt bad that she would be letting her down. Would a party compensate for the tapestry not actually moving? For Rose, Poppet wasn't sure.
Rose and Poppet moved quickly up to the seventh floor corridor. It was past three now. Everyone should be in the room. Rose ran up to the tapestry eagerly. I need to find Rose's tea-party room. I need to find Rose's tea-party room. I need to find- The door started to grow. Poppet smiled.
"I don't see any new characters, Poppet!" Rose called as the door continued to grow.
"Oh – my bad!" Poppet grinned, turning to face Rose.
"Poppet! Behind you! The Room of Requirement is appearing!" Rose squealed, running up to join Poppet.
"What? What's that?" Poppet asked; her voice thick with mock surprise.
Rose didn't answer but instead placed her hand on the door handle. She twisted it and pushed it open. The room was dark. Poppet had guessed James had turned off the lights. "How curious..." Rose muttered as she took a step inside.
Suddenly, the lights flickered on and there stood James, Albus, Roxanne, Lily, Hugo, Dominique, Louis, Tobias, Blane, Florence and Jocelyn, all beaming at Rose. "SURPRISE!" They yelled, clapping.
Rose looked taken aback, "You did this? For me?" She turned to Poppet. "You lied about the tapestry!" She looked vaguely disappointed for a second but then turned back to her family and friends who were all smiling at her broadly. Rose almost looked over-whelmed with emotion. James lifted up a plastic crown and placed it on her head. Rose blushed and took a seat at the head of the table. "Wow."
Everyone helped themselves to cakes and biscuits and cups of tea and goblets of Butterbeer as Rose opened her presents. From her mum and dad she had received a new broom: a Nimbus 3001, the same as Poppet's. From her brother she got a huge hamper of Honeydukes goodies as well as a new quill and a book about the Second Wizarding War. The Potters collectively got her a broom servicing kit, a voucher for Flourish & Blotts and a year's subscription to The Quibbler. Louis and Dominique and their parents got her a new set of Gryffindor Quidditch robes and a book about the Holyhead Harpies. Roxanne and her family had given her a set of Wizarding Encyclopaedias and a basket of freshly made muffins. Rose looked around the room and beamed at everyone in it. With a limited budget, Poppet had given her a few bits and pieces from Honeydukes, Florence had gotten her a book about Transfiguration and Jocelyn had given her pots of different coloured ink so she could make her revision notes pretty. "Thank you, everyone! I have so many thank you owls to send out."
A good time was had by all. Poppet was sat in-between Tobias and Florence and she had a marvellous time. They drank Butterbeer, ate cakes until they were stuffed full and laughed until they cried. Poppet and Tobias were excitedly laughing about something when Tobias leaned across and gave her a big kiss on her cheek. Poppet giggled and squirmed but he held her close as she shrieked in mock disgust. Everyone laughed along.
"Not at the table," James said, sternly.
Assuming he was joking, Tobias continued to hold on to Poppet.
"I said stop!" James said, raising his voice a little louder. "She doesn't like it."
"Yeah, she does," Tobias said. The laugher was fading away. Tobias released Poppet.
"She's squirming and pushing you away," James pointed out.
"She doesn't mind," Tobias said.
"She can speak for herself," Poppet reminded them both, "James, I'm okay. Don't worry about it. Trust me, if I didn't like it, you would know."
James relaxed, but not entirely, "Okay."
Florence looked around the table. Nobody was saying anything. Dom coughed and everyone glanced at her. It was obvious she instantly regretted it. "I think we should sing to Rose now," Flo said, cheerily, "shall we?"
Everyone murmured in agreement and a chorus of 'Happy Birthday To You' resonated around the table. Rose blew out her candles and everyone cheered. After that, Tobias and James' little skirmish had soon been forgotten about.
Hours passed and soon it became obvious that it was time to leave. The Room of Requirement required no clean up, which made Poppet very happy and she walked slowly back to the common room with Tobias. She was very happy just walking along with him, chatting with him and teasing him about Quidditch.
"You throw a good party," Tobias said, playfully elbowing her in the ribs. She smirked.
"I know."
"Shame James kinda ruined it," Tobias said.
"I know," Poppet said, quietly, "I don't know what's wrong with him. That's twice today you two have had a little spat."
"It's weird," Tobias agreed. "I guess you and him are pretty good mates. Perhaps he was just making sure you were okay. Maybe he doesn't want his friend ending up with a bloke who won't treat you right."
"Who said I'm ending up with you?" Poppet laughed, knocking her arm playfully into his.
"Apparently everyone," Tobias laughed, "I can't talk to anyone anymore without them bringing you up. I mean, I guess there's worse things to talk about but it is driving me a little crazy."
"I'm getting the same treatment," Poppet sighed. "People are just too interested in other people's business."
"So we have business?" Tobias laughed.
"I never said that," Poppet said, playfully, "I am your partner-in-crime though."
"Ah yes. Hastings and Holt against the world," Tobias smiled.
They reached the portrait hole and entered the common room. "Hastings and Holt against the world, indeed," Poppet agreed.
AN: So James is a little over-protective, don't you think? What did you make of Rose's little party? It was cute, yes? This was the final chapter before the crew head off for Christmas. But don't worry; they'll be back to Hogwarts very soon! Keep reviewing; let me know what you think. Love always x