Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Happy 15th

Adrian refused to forgive me, even when Saturday rolled around. Though at this point, I think it's become more of a game for him to see what he could get me to do rather than him actually feeling angry. So far, I had sat through one of his quidditch practices, (which entailed listening to his teammates make rude comments about Gryffindors and Flint accusing me of spying for Wood), I helped Flora and Hestia with their Charms homework so he didn't have to, I prevented Fred and George from trying out their recently improved nose-bleed potion on him, and I even ate lunch with him at Slytherin table. I shudder just thinking about that meal. Sure, it was nice to do normal boyfriend-girlfriend things with Adrian. We got to hold hands under the table, and playfully bicker about why mayonnaise is or isn't gross. But we had to do all of this under the intensely suffocating glare of Stimpson. It's a blessing voodoo isn't heavily practiced in the UK as it is in other parts of the world. Because if Stimpson had access to that type of magic, I think there would be about a dozen Holly Weasley-like voodoo dolls being thrown into fires or plunged into water.

So, now that it was Saturday and the first Hogsmeade trip of the year, I was determined to wrestle the power back from Adrian. I was supposed to be the one calling the shots in this relationship. I mean, damn it! I called dibs the first day that we were officially a couple. That morning, I took my time getting ready. Just like the first time Adrian and I had gone to Hogsmeade together, I ended up borrowing clothes from Alicia to make myself appear more girly. There was just something about wearing one of Charlie's hand-me-down jumpers that made flirting with Adrian unappealing. Like last time, Adrian was waiting for me in the entrance hall. Unlike last time, thankfully, Stimpson wasn't hanging off his arm like she had boneless legs. "Good morning", Adrian greeted me with a smile once we locked eyes.

"Morning", I said back as I took the last couple of steps needed to stand in front of him. "Happy late birthday". I said; reaching out to hug him. His birthday was on the fifteenth, but since that date fell on a Thursday this year, we had to push back the celebration until the weekend. Adrian accepted the hug by wrapping his arms around my waist while I wrapped my arms around his neck. He pulled me in closer with an ease that suggested neither eagerness nor displeasure. My boy is definitely the cool type.

We remained embraced for a while; smelling the scent of each other's shampoos; not caring about the students that passed by us as they headed either to Hogsmeade or to the great hall. It wasn't until we heard the unmistakable voice of Hermione Granger, preaching, "End house-elf slavery", that we broke apart.

"Are you ready to go?" Adrian asked after we had returned our hands to our sides.

"Maybe", I answered, smiling at him to let him know I hadn't given him a serious answer. "Before we go, I think it's important that we both agree to not expose any more past lives while in Hogsmeade".

Adrian snorted, as he started turning for the doors that would lead us to the grounds; offering me his arm as he usually does. "Oh, don't worry", he said; waiting for me to rest my left hand on the crook of his elbow before continuing. "I was planning on saving that announcement for our one-year anniversary".

We started for the doors, blending with all of the other older students that were also allowed to escape Hogwarts for the day. "Well, I guess that will make the train ride to school interesting", I played along. Though at that moment it did occur to me how nice it would be to have an anniversary on September 1st. That's one date that's hard to forget.

The outside air was crisp, and I just knew that my nose would turn red before the day was out. We didn't talk as we walked away from the castle. The chattering of other students made it difficult for us to hear each other. Though the further away we got, the more the crowd of students thinned out; everyone traveling at their own pace. "Where would you like to go today?" Adrian asked once we started the decline into Hogsmeade village.

"No", I said with a shake of my head. "We're celebrating your birthday, so you get to choose". That was important to me, especially since I didn't have any money to treat him. He'd have to pay, so he should get to choose what we'd do. Not to mention, I was feeling slightly bad that the only birthday present I had for him was homemade and small enough to fit in my pocket.

Before I could respond, George bolted past Adrian in a flash of red and orange. It was so unexpected that I stepped closer to Adrian's side; shivering from the cold air. Seconds later, Fred sprinted down the hill after George, yelling, "Give me my magic-making tool back". Huh, they hadn't said anything about going to Hogsmeade last night. I wonder what made them change their minds.

"I see your brother still isn't using the word 'wand'", Adrian commented once Fred and George had disappeared from our sight.

"Yeah", I responded with a shrug. The magic word game had turned out to be the longest game in the boys' year-long competition so far. Though, Lee had lost during transfiguration class. McGonagall had given him the look that can make all Gryffindors toe the line, and he lost without putting up much of a fight. "George really wants to win, but Fred is desperate since he hasn't won any of the other games so they're taking it really seriously". Or as serious as Fred and George are capable of. I hunch my shoulders up to my ears to try to block some of the chilled fall air. Maybe I should change their magic words soon so the game doesn't drag on forever. "So," I said, turning back to our original conversation. "What do you want to do first?"

Adrian let out an exasperated sigh as he stopped walking, tugging me to a halt. "I think", He said as he unhooked our arms and reached up to unwrap his scarf. "That the first thing I want to do is go to Gladrags Wizardwear, and buy you a scarf". Adrian didn't pause. As soon as he had pulled his silver and green scarf off his neck, he started to tie it around mine. As soon as he was done, I smelled the now-familiar scent of mint and pine.

"You can't spend money on me on your birthday", I argued as we looped arms again and continued on our way.

"It's not my birthday", He countered.

"Fine then", I allowed with a roll of my eyes. But I wasn't annoyed. This was the type of friendly bickering I liked best. The kind that Jessie always tried to start with her significant others, but never managed to actually have. "You can't spend money on me on the day we're celebrating your birthday".

The town came into view. It wouldn't be long now until we would actually have to decide on a plan of action. "I thought you said I get to choose", Adrian argued.

"You do", was my immediate response.

"And I'm choosing to buy you a scarf", Adrian in a manner that suggested that that was the end of the argument.

But I have an almost compulsive need to have the last word. "But I don't need a scarf". And that was the truth. Mum knitted more than enough scarves for everyone in the family. It's the one thing, other than children, that the Weasley family had an abundance of. Hell, a scarf is what we gave Great Aunt Muriel for Christmas every year.

"And yet I never see you wearing one", Adrian made his counter-statement, talking like my lack of scarves was a mystery for the ages. Okay, Mr. Sarcastic. I hear you.

I smiled up at him. "I prefer your scarf", I said, laying it on thick. I even took it a step further by batting my eyelashes at him.

Adrian laughed through his nose with his mouth closed as we entered Hogsmeade village. With an eye roll of his own, Adrian said, "In that case, we will go to Gladrags Wizardwear where I will buy myself a scarf, and you can continue using mine". Aww, how cute of him. But I'm happy to see that we have the capacity to compromise.

Shopping with Adrian was… a test of endurance. That's the only way I can think to describe it. In my first life, I had been a big believer in the benefits of retail therapy. My belief was so strong that some people probably would have considered Jessie to be a shopaholic. But in this life, I hated shopping. Maybe it was because I didn't have a lot of spare money to play around with. Or maybe it was because I had learned the hard way that material possessions don't matter in the end. No matter the reason, the fact remains that I have little patience for comparing prices and discussing the quality of the goods. Adrian, on the other hand, looked at every scarf they had like the wrong choice would ruin his life. He liked the green cotton scarf because it was on clearance, but it wasn't the right type of green. It wasn't Slytherin green, and therefore he couldn't wear it with his school uniform. It would clash. The gray wool scarf was a contender. After all, wool scarves are always the best because they're warm and durable. But he wasn't crazy about the tassels hanging off the ends of the scarf. That was one fashion choice he couldn't get behind. We looked at satin scarves that were quickly rejected because a satin scarf was impractical and more of an accessory statement for women. The same was said about a display of chiffon scarves. The polar fleece scarves were an option. But we couldn't find any that didn't have some sort of pattern. "Only stripes or solid colors", Adrian had decided after looking at a paisley purple scarf with disgust. My suggestion of a colonel mustard yellow scarf was quickly turned down for being too Hufflepuff. We probably spent an hour at Gladrags just looking at scarves before Adrian returned to the gray wool scarf and declared that he can live with tassels.

"I think you picked a good one", I said as we left the shop; each of us with a scarf wrapped around our necks. "Gray matches your eyes".

Adrian's expression was soft as he stared down at me. And for the first time, I actually felt like we were on a normal date; doing normal couple things. "Three broomsticks?" He asked.

"Lead the way", I answered. We didn't have to walk far before entering the popular Hogsmeade pub. But once inside, engulfed by the pub's toasty atmosphere, it was a challenge to find an open table. Especially one that offered a bit of privacy. Maybe that's why couples generally went to Madam Puddifoot's. But that type of place wasn't mine or Adrian's cup of tea. Standing on my tiptoes, I strain my neck trying to see over the crowd of students and locals. "I think I see an open table in the back", I said after a moment.

"Alright", Adrian said loud enough for me to hear over all the other conversations taking place. "You try to grab the table, and I'll get drinks. Is butterbeer okay?"

"Sounds good", I said before we broke apart, each hurrying to complete our tasks before anyone could get in our way. I had to use my shoulders to wedge myself through different clumps of people to get to the back table; apologizing whenever I accidentally stepped on someone's foot. I had to rush the last couple of feet to the table to get there before a Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff couple could, but it was worth it. This table was in a shadowed back corner of the pub. In most cases, it was the type of table that no one wanted in restaurants, because of the poor lighting and limited space. But for teenagers on a date, it was perfect. Being in a shadowed corner gave it mood lighting. The table's small size made it impossible for Adrian and I to not be in constant contact with each other. The best part was that it is one of those half-booth half chairs tables. With a bench on one side and a pull-out chair on the other. Adrian and I could sit next to each other, pressed against each other's sides. Or we could sit across from each other with our knees touching and our feet competing for space.

As I waited for Adrian to join me with the drinks, I took a seat on the booth part of the table, pressing myself as far into the corner as I could so it would be clear to Adrian that there was room for him to sit next to me if he wanted to. My heart was fluttering in a way that I hadn't felt in this lifetime. It gave me a sense of nostalgia, as I thought back to all the dates Jessie had gone on that left her with the feeling I had now. But then my thoughts turned to Adrian and those past date memories disappeared. Adrian was different from all those guys. He was incomparable. Maybe that was because he was also a reincarnated soul. But I felt more at ease and less self-conscious with him than I had with any other love interest. Surely, that meant something.

Fighting the same crowd I had to in order to get this table, Adrian shimmied his way through the throngs of people with a pint of butterbeer in each hand; holding them up to lessen the risk of getting bumped into and spilling them. He was successful in his endeavor. "This place hasn't changed", he said after setting the drinks on the table and sitting down next to me. He casually puts an arm over my shoulders to make ourselves more comfortable in the tight space.

I give myself a moment to revel in his closeness before asking, "Did you come here often?" It's left unsaid that I'm asking about his past life. Adrian wouldn't appreciate me asking something like that in a place where we could be overheard.

Adrian takes a long sip from his pint before answering. "Only once or twice. Back then, I didn't – he didn't like being surrounded by people".

"I guess the Three Broomsticks is pretty old then", I said, steering the topic away from Regulus. I know that isn't something Adrian likes to dwell on. At least, as long Sirius isn't involved.

"Rumor has it", Adrian started to say as I took my first sip; foam tickling my nose. "That the Three Broomsticks is as old as the village. Going back to medieval times". I place my pint down on the tabletop to give Adrian my full attention. Though I guess I failed to drink as neatly as Adrian because he reached over with his free hand to wipe off some excess foam before continuing. "Though I imagine it's changed a bit since then. But Madam Rosmerta was running this place back when I was… someone else. So, I'd say it's safe to assume nothing has changed in the last couple of decades".

We sat in silence for a few moments just enjoying our butterbeers and the company. It's a nice feeling when you can feel close to someone without having to talk. When I finish half of my pint, I lean into Adrian's side and rest my head on his shoulder; peering up. He has his pint raised to his lips. Giving me a good view of his chiseled jawline. But he does his best to look down at me, despite the awkward angle. "Do you miss it?" I finally worked up the courage to ask. It was something that I wanted to express for a long time, but something that only another reincarnated person would understand. "Do you miss being an adult?" I rephrased.

Adrian set his pint down and responded in a calm voice. "I don't know. I wasn't an adult for very long".

I had to think about that. And after doing some mental math I understood what he meant. Regulus died when he was eighteen years old. So, he had only been of majority age for about a year or two. And he had been an adult while fighting in a war, so it was unlikely that he got to experience the fun parts of adulthood.

Before I could apologize for being insensitive, Adrian asked, "What do you miss about your life before…" He trailed off; not feeling comfortable asking about life before Holly in such an open setting.

I hummed as I thought about how to answer, locking eyes with him. "Voting was fun".

"Voting?" He asked.

"Yeah, in America if you're an American citizen, eighteen years or older, and haven't committed any felonies, you get to vote in local, state, and federal elections. Like who's going to be the president, or if your county should use tax money to improve the roads. The first election you vote in is exciting, but the novelty wears off after a while. Though I do miss it". I shrugged after my answer, hoping that I explained it well enough. But I quickly thought of other adult things that I missed, because I didn't want to dive into the topic of politics. Especially politics that no longer affected me. "I also miss being able to eat whatever I want without a parent telling me not to". You haven't lived until your dinner is half a carton of ice cream. Though I wouldn't recommend making a habit of the practice.

"Hmm", Adrian vocalized as smiled a closed-mouth smile. "Yes, I remember that freedom. My mother never let me have fried foods. Said they were too plebeian. But one night when I was away from home, I ate fish and chips at some dingy establishment that's probably gone out of business by now. I think that was the first time I rebelled". For a moment, we let our thoughts carry us away to different places. I don't know where Adrian's thoughts took him. But mine took me back to Nebraska and my Freshman year of college where I learned about many adult things. "But", Adrian said not long after. "I wouldn't trade this life for anything. My parents, they're…. I mean, I don't mind being a minor again since they're the ones looking out for me".

I knew exactly what he meant. Mum and Dad were the perfect parents that I didn't always feel like I deserved. And all my siblings; I probably didn't deserve them either. But now that I know what it feels like to be in a loving, close-knit family, I'll never be able to go back to how I was living before. "Yeah", I agreed. "I wouldn't trade it either". Before we could go too deep into self-reflection, I gave my head a small shake. Sitting up, forcing Adrian to shift in the process, I asked, "Are you ready for your birthday gift?"

Adrian raised an eyebrow. "You're not about to make another crude comment about kissing, are you?"

"No", I answered with a huff as I put my hand into my pocket to dig out his present. "I already promised you that I wouldn't do that again. At least, not when I'm in public". It took a couple of attempts considering the limited space, but I managed to pull out the folded piece of parchment from my pocket. "But I'm hoping that with this gift, you can let me off the hook", I said, offering the parchment to him.

Just like when he was wiping foam off my face, Adrian uses his free hand to take his birthday gift from me. With that one hand, he uses his fingers to unfold it before reading aloud. "This is a one-time coupon that will allow you to win any argument. Just hand me this coupon when you want to use it and I'll stop arguing with you". When he finished reading, Adrian glanced up at me; eyes alight with some emotion that I was having trouble defining. "Where did you come up with this idea?"

I shrugged. "You have to be creative when you lack funds. Happy 15th birthday".