Chapter 13

With the new year came Jude's 15th birthday at the end of the first month. He was a bit excited, considering that he knew he was going to get presents this year. Last year, he didn't know what exactly celebrating entailed, and the years before that, he just never celebrated it. But being friends with James and Emma, and having pseudo parents like Neville and Hannah, he knew he was going to celebrate it whether he liked it or not.

Jude opened his eyes slowly, feeling the daze of sleep still pulling at him and the sleepiness around his eyes telling him to shut them once more. The blue eyed boy let out a startled yelp when he saw a familiar yet blurry face in front of him.

"Happy birthday, Porter!" Carlos grinned brightly from above him.

"Curry," Jude groaned, rubbing his hands over his face. "What did I tell you about staying so close to my bed?"

Carlos paused for a moment as he thought but beamed once more, "Not to do it, but I made an exception since it's your birthday."

Jude squinted his eyes as he searched for his glasses and mumbled, "That makes no sense." He grabbed his glasses and put them on. He stared at the boy in front of him, "Well, where's everyone else?"

"Downstairs," Carlos answered as he climbed into the protesting boy's bed. He continued to grin while Jude glared at him. He handed him his present, "Happy birthday."

The glasses wearing male resisted the urge to sigh, knowing that his breath didn't smell so great in the morning. He took the package and tore off the wrapping. Inside the package was a pair of light blue boxers with snitches on them.

He cleared his throat awkwardly, "Thanks, Curry." He stared at Carlos who continued to beam brightly. He hitched his head slightly, "You gonna leave now so I can get ready?"

"Oh, right," Carlos ambled off the bed and left the room.

Jude sighed heavily before making his way to the bathroom. After he finished his business there, he put on his uniform before making his way down to the common room. Once there, he was bombarded with the shouts of 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY!'.

He blinked, his eyes wide as a smile came onto his face, "Guys, really, you didn't have to do this just for me."

"Just for you?" Louis threw in as he came up. He wrapped his arm around Jude's neck and walked him over to the table where the presents were, "You act as if you're some random bloke. No, we did this for the Amazing Jude Porter. You know him, right? Smart kid, wears glasses, is the best seeker Gryffindor's ever seen."

"You flatter me, Louis," Jude joked lightly as he stared at the table of presents. He grinned at his friends who were all smiling back, "But really, you guys didn't have to do this. Hell, I'd be happy with just a pair of socks."

James snorted, "That's what you said last year." He handed his present over, "I heard Curry had the honor of giving you your first gift, so I thought I'd be the second."

Jude shook his head amusedly as he opened the gift. His grin widened when he saw the amount of sweets in the box, "Thanks, mate."

Emma rolled her eyes, "As if you both needed that much." She handed her box over, "Happy birthday, Jude."

He unwrapped it and opened the box. He chuckled at the book on lions, "Really, Emma?" He gave her a quick hug, "Thank you."

The rest of the presents weren't as heartfelt. Louis actually did get him a pair of socks, Hugo got him a small leather bracelet, Lily got him a Holyhead Harpies jersey, Simon got him broom polish, and Kelli told him that his position on the team next year was his birthday present. Hell, he still loved it.

During the classes that he had for the day, the teachers simply told him happy birthday while Neville gave him another plant as well as help on his assignment. The other plant was still growing strong, and his room was a bit plain, so Jude was happy to take on another plant.

The other teachers he passed in the hall bid him a happy birthday as well. He was surprised that they remembered, and flattered as well. Professor Alexander, while still a bit sad, gave him a hug and wished him a happy birthday. He felt bad that he couldn't tell her that he had seen Professor Harmon, but a part of him knew that would make her even more sad.

During supper, Hestia brought him the mail. He opened the pack of letters to find the Weasley family wishing him a happy birthday. He found one from Ginny and Teddy where they said they wanted to see him at his upcoming quidditch match. James was happy about that, but Jude didn't think he'd perform well under the pressure of having to impress somebody.

As he went to bed that night, after a large helping of cake, he couldn't help but think that while it was a small time of peace, he knew something was going to happen soon.

The next week found him and the Gryffindor quidditch team in the light rain against Hufflepuff in the second match of the year. Before the match started, he, James, Emma, Hugo, Albus, and Lily said their hellos to Ginny, Harry, Teddy, and Victoire. Jude was able to ignore the death stares from Harry and have a pleasant conversation with the others.

Victoire had told the others that Jude was one of the best seekers Gryffindor had in the longest time; no one other than Jude saw the horrible scowl on Harry's face. Then again, the blue eyed boy thought to himself, Albus was making the same face as well. He felt a bit of happiness come from his chest, knowing that the other boy wouldn't be able to play until he graduated.

The blonde Weasley boasted that, while not in Gryffindor when she was in school, Jude had never lost a match no matter what happened to him during the game. It was true dedication. Despite the cool weather, Jude couldn't stop his cheeks from heating up.

Once Kelli told them the match was starting, the players, minus Lily and Albus, went onto the field and shot off on their broomsticks. The announcer, he believed it was a Slytherin student, introduced the teams before Professor Young gave the instructions.

They all shot off once the balls made it into the air. Jude floated away from the ruckus. He could see the new seeker, a 3rd year named Ellie Marks, fly around the pitch in hopes of finding the snitch before he did. She must've been trained by Beckett since he did the exact same thing when he went against him.

The match went on for a long while before Jude heard the light fluttering of the snitch nearby. He shot off on his broom, ignoring the announcer who always gave away his position. He had to maneuver past the other team's beaters before he actually had sight of the snitch.

Marks was right behind him, but like all the other seekers, she wasn't as fast as he was. Once he was only a couple of feet away, he outstretched his arm and laid himself flat on his broom.

No contest.

Jude held his hand up, showing the snitch while the Slytherin student announced that Gryffindor won the match 280-140.

Yeah, Jude thought to himself, he felt good knowing that not even the ugly glares from both Harry and Albus Potter couldn't bring him down.