Silver the Hedgehog was doing one of the few things he enjoyed doing over the Summer Holidays, studying. From an outsiders perspective this would be a strange sight. Silver would spends his late nights catching up on his school work. He couldn't do it during the day, his Aunt and Uncle would suspect him of trying to blow the house up or they would worry that the neighbours would see. This night Silver was lying on his bed with the blanket on him, his History of Magic book propped up on his pillow. He was writing an essay on the latest chapter "Witch Burning in the Fourteenth Century".

Non-magic people (more commonly known as Muggles) were particularly afraid of magic in medieval times, but not very good at recognizing it. On the rare occasion that they did catch a real witch or wizard, burning had no effect whatsoever. The witch or wizard would perform a basic Flame Freezing Charm and then pretend to shriek with pain while enjoying a gentle, tickling sensation. Indeed, Wendelin the Weird enjoyed being burned so much that she allowed herself to be caught no less than forty-seven times in various disguises.

Silver dipped his quill into his ink bottle and began writing down notes. He would stop every now and then to listen in case anyone else heard the scratching of his quill. His Aunt and Uncle would be furious if they found out he was studying. He might get thrown back in the cupboard downstairs for the rest of the summer. He had to risk it though, he was given a lot of homework. He had a particularly long one required for potions and he didn't need more reasons for Infinite to hate him. Luckily thanks to Ray the Squirrel, Silver now knew how to pick locks which meant he could sneak downstairs and get some of his school stuff out from the locked cupboard. He was keen to not get caught, his Aunt and Uncle were already mad at him after what happened last week. Silver remembered it vividly. They got a phone call one night and unluckily it was Menthor who answered it. He picked it up and said robotically "Hello, Menthor the Echidna speaking". Silver was in the room and froze when he heard the voice on the other end "HELLO? HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? I…WANT… TO… TALK… TO… SILVER… THE… HEDGEHOG!". It was Razor who's inexperience with a phone was greater than Silver expected. He yelled so loud that Menthor jumped and held the receiver a foot away from her head. He glared at Silver "WHO IS THIS! WHO ARE YOU!" "RAZOR… THE… SHARK!". They sounded like they were yelling at each other from two ends of a football field "I'M… A… FRIEND… OF… SILVER… FROM… SCHOOL!". Menthor looked deranged "THERE'S NO HEDGEHOG HERE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT SCHOOL YOURE TALKING ABOUT! NEVER CONTACT ME AGAIN! DON'T YOU COME NEAR MY FAMILY!". Silver then received a tedious lecture from Menthor about how he dared give their number to people like him.

Thankfully Razor didn't call again and he had apparently warned Coral as she didn't call either which was a shame as she was Muggle Born so she could have talked her way out of it without revealing she was a wizard. Finally Silver finished another page of his essay and decided that was enough for the night. He put his stuff away and gave a big stretch, he had grown a few inches over the summer. He checked his clock. It was one in the morning, Silver's heart stopped. He had been thirteen for a whole hour and never knew. He looked over to Lily's empty cage. He swore Menthor he wouldn't send letters to his friends and in return he could let her out to stretch her wings. She'd been gone for two days now. He wasn't worried, she'd been gone for longer but he hoped she'd return soon. She was the only living thing in the house that didn't flinch at the sight of him. Silver then spotted something in the starry sky moving towards the house. At first he thought it was Lily but then the shape split into three. Silver opened the door and three flickys flew in, two of the were carrying a third which Silver recognised as Piopio. Silver removed the package from Piopio and then helped him into Lily's cage. Piopio opened one eye, gave a hoot of thanks and then started drinking the water. Silver then turned to the other two Flicky's. One was his own, Lily. She nipped his finger affectionately as he removed her package and then she fluttered over to join Piopio. Silver didn't recognise the third brown Flicky but since the letter it was carrying the crest of Soleanna he managed a good guess. When he removed the letter the third flicky immediately took off back out the window. Silver went to open Piopio's letters first. He ripped off the brown paper and inside was a box an envelope, his first ever birthday card. He opened the envelope first and two things came out, the card and a folded newspaper clipping. Silver unfolded and smoothed out the paper and read it.

MINISTRY OF MAGIC EMPLOYEE SCOOPS GRAND PRIZE

Rob O'Hedge, Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office at the Ministry of Magic, has won the annual Daily Prophet Grand Prize Gold Ring Draw. A delighted Mr O'Hedge told the Daily Prophet, "We will be spending the gold on a summer holiday in Sandopolis, where our eldest son, Ash, works as a curse breaker for Nameless Wizarding Bank."

The O'Hedges family will be spending a month in Sandopolis, returning for the start of the new school year at Soleanna, which five of the children currently attend

Silver scanned the moving photograph on the paper. He could see the grinning faces of all nine of the O'Hedge family standing in front of a large pyramid, they were all wearing fezzes. Right in front was Razor with his arm around the shoulder of his little sister Blaze. On Razor's shoulder sat his pet Chao Wacky. Silver couldn't think of anyone who deserved to win a large pile of gold more than the O'Hedges, who were very nice and extremely poor. He picked up Razor's letter and unfolded it.

Dear Silver,

Happy birthday!

Look, I'm really sorry about that telephone call. I hope the Muggles didn't give you a hard time. I asked Dad, and he reckons I shouldn't have shouted.

It's amazing here in Sandopolis. Ash's taken us around all the tombs and you wouldn't believe the curses those old wizards put on them. Mum wouldn't let Blaze come in the last one. There were all these mutant skeletons in there, of Muggles who'd broken in and grown extra heads and stuff.

I couldn't believe it when Dad won the Daily Prophet Draw. Seven hundred gold rings! Most of it's gone on this trip, but they're going to buy me a new Talisman for next year

Silver laughed, the memory of the car crash that destroyed Razor's last Talisman was still fresh in his mind. He was happy that Razor would be getting his own soon instead of a second hand one from his brother. He read on

We'll be back about a week before term starts and we'll be going up to get my Talisman and our new books. Any chance of meeting you there? Don't let the Muggles get you down! Try and come to Knothole.

Razor

P.S. Hamlin's Head Boy. He got the letter last week. Don't bring it up or you'll be stuck listening for hours.

Silver then opened up the box, inside was a blue crystal ring and with it was a note.

Silver, this is a Chaos Ring. If there's someone untrustworthy around, it's supposed to light up and vibrate. Ash says it's rubbish sold for wizard tourists and isn't reliable, because it kept lighting up at dinner last night. But he didn't realize Mighty and Ray had put beetles in his soup.

Bye, Razor

Silver took the ring but it didn't glow "Well, at least you guys are trustworthy" he looked at Lily and Piopio. He took the package Lily had brought him. It was from Coral, there was a box, a birthday card and a letter.

Dear, Silver

Razor wrote to me and told me about his phone call to your Uncle Menthor. I do hope you're all right. I'm on holiday in Spagonia at the moment and I didn't know how I was going to send this to you. What if they'd opened it at customs? But then Lily turned up! I think she wanted to make sure you got something for your birthday for a change. I bought your present by Flicky-order; there was an advertisement in the Daily Prophet (I've been getting it delivered; it's so good to keep up with what's going on in the wizarding world). Did you see that picture of Razor and his family a week ago? I bet he's learning loads. I'm really jealous, the ancient Sandopolis wizards were fascinating. There's some interesting local history of witchcraft here, too. I've rewritten my whole History of Magic essay to include some of the things I've found out, I hope it's not too long, it's two rolls of parchment more than Professor Hawking asked for. Razor says he's going to be in Knothole in the last week of the holidays. Can you make it? Will your aunt and uncle let you come? I really hope you can. If not, I'll see you on the Soleanna Express on September first!

Love from Coral

P.S. Razor says Hamlin's Head Boy. I'll bet Hamlin's really pleased. Razor doesn't seem too happy about it

Silver laughed and picked up the present next. It was quite heavy which made Silver assume Coral had sent him a book, but it wasn't. Silver's heart gave a huge bound as he unwrapped the present and found a sleek leather case inside. Silver letters were on the top "Extreme Gear Servicing Kit" "Wow" Silver said grinning. He opened up the case to find multiple tools and care products. Metal polish that was guaranteed not to damage the paint, tweezers to get bugs and dirt out of the board, a compass for long journeys and a handbook for do it yourself board care. This made Silver feel a lot better, if there was one thing part from his friends that he missed it was soaring through the air on his Blue Star board. He took the final package and recognised the untidy scribbles as belonging to Big. He was part way through unwrapping it when it suddenly quivered and then a snap like it had jaws. Silver froze, he knew Big would never send him something he considered dangerous. The problem was that what Big considered dangerous wouldn't be what a normal person did. Silver poked the parcel and it again snapped. He quickly pulled off the packaging and out fell a book. Silver just had time to register its handsome green cover, emblazoned with the golden title "The Monster Book of Monsters", before it flipped onto its edge and scuttled sideways along the bed like some weird crab "Uh-oh" Silver muttered. The book toppled off the bed with a loud clunk and shuffled rapidly across the room. Silver followed it stealthily. The book was hiding in the dark space under his desk. Praying that the others were still fast asleep, Silver got down on his hands and knees and reached toward it "Ouch!". The book had snapped shut on his hand and then flapped past him, still scuttling on its covers. Silver scrambled around, threw himself forward and managed to flatten it. Uncle Menthor gave a loud, sleepy grunt in the room next door. Lily and Piopio watched interestedly as Silver clamped the struggling book tightly in his arms, hurried to his chest of drawers, and pulled out a belt, which he buckled tightly around it. The Monster Book shuddered angrily, but could no longer flap and snap, so Silver threw it down on the bed and reached for Big's card.

Dear Silver,

Happy Birthday!

Think you might find this useful for next year. Won't say no more here. Tell you when I see you. Hope the Muggles are treating you right.

All the best,

Big

Silver thought it ominous that Big thought a biting book would be useful this year. He still grinned and put the card next to Coral and Razor's. Finally he took the letter form Soleanna which he noticed was thicker than usual.

Dear Mr Silver,

Please note that the new school year will begin on September the first. The Soleanna Express will leave from Radical station, platform nine and three-quarters, at eleven o'clock.

Third years are permitted to visit the village of Spiral Hill on certain weekends. Please give the enclosed permission form to your parent or guardian to sign.

A list of books for next year is enclosed. Yours sincerely,

Professor Echo the Dolphin

Deputy Headmistress

Silver pulled out the Spiral Hill permission form and looked at it, no longer grinning. It would be wonderful to visit the village on weekends; he knew it was an entirely wizarding village, and he had never set foot there. But how on Mobis was he going to persuade Uncle Menthor or Aunt Cynthia to sign the form? He looked over at the alarm clock. It was now two o'clock in the morning. Deciding that he'd worry about the Spiral Hill form when he woke up, Silver got back into bed and reached up to cross off another day on the chart he'd made for himself, counting down the days left until his return to Soleanna. Then he took off his glasses and lay down, eyes open, facing his three birthday cards. Extremely unusual though he was, at that moment Silver the Hedgehog felt just like everyone else, glad, for the first time in his life, that it was his birthday