The Brightest Star Of The Darkest Night

29. The Dual Birthday (?) Prank

You might be questioning the presence of the question mark...well, it might be because the pranksters in question themselves are not sure if it was a prank or not! XDXD

You'll have to discover and judge it yourself!

Enjoy!

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Ages-old battle instinct had Marvolo ingrained the habit of sensing and feeling out his surroundings with his Magic before he opens his eyes. And for the last couple of months, sensing out for his son as well. So when, on the morning of New Year Eve, Marvolo noticed he can't feel his son anywhere in the Slytherin Castle, his first reaction was alarm and dread. And then, when he noticed he can't feel Nagini as well, he felt as if his heart stopped beating.

HOW?! He NEVER felt anything at the night!

What did the hell happen?

As Marvolo recognized a full-blown panic is starting to settle in his bones, he slammed his shield up and threw his blanket off to rush towards his son's room to check out physically and maybe find a clue on what happened, who dared to kidnap his son and decades-long companion. He will tear the World apart if anything happens to either of them! On the verge of freaking out, he almost ran into his son's House Elf who appeared at his side just as he threw open the door of his son's room.

"Master Harry has requested Master Lord sir's presence in the Manor for his surprise birthday celebration and asked Bailey to place his birthday gift on the nightstand table. Happy Birthday, Master."

Marvolo gaped for a second before his half-sleep half panic-addled brain geared up and he remembered that this is indeed New Year Eve, his birthday. Is that what's happening? They're preparing a surprised birthday celebration for him while giving him an aneurysm?

Clearly, neither of them realized that they will be responsible for Hell is to be loose on Earth if something happens to either of them! The first Wizarding war or even the World War is nothing compared to what Marvolo would do if that happens.

As he finished processing everything, he immediately reached out towards the Horcrux links on both his preciouses to find them rather excited and giddy with anticipation. No trace of distress, no alarm, or any sensation of pain coming from either of them. He was tempted to see through their eyes but refrained himself. No, they're fine. And if they're working so hard to give him something like a birthday surprise - as repugnant as that sounds, he will indulge them and not ruin their delight.

Marvolo took a deep breath and calmed down. Well, no one has ever wished him on his birthday other than Nagini, heck people didn't even know when was his birthday. So that's a bit unexpected and unusual for him. But even so, how come he never felt the tingling of the Wards shifting in the Manor? Is his son truly that proficient in sneaking inside the Wards that he placed, or he is losing touch? He even sneaked inside his bedroom the other night as well! Even now, when he reached towards the Slytherin Manor wards, he can't feel them. What is happe - OH!

Mother Castle is blocking him. That little twit probably asked the Mother Castle to block him out until he reached the Manor. And he didn't even know that Mother Castle was capable of doing that until now.

If Marvolo was a lesser man, he would have smacked his face. Of course, even the Mother Castle would prefer to listen to his son's request and block Her Lord! Note the sarcasm here.

Hold on, did the Elf just say his son left him a present?

Marvolo turned on his heels and managed to keep his dignity and not stomp towards his room to find out, anticipation bubbling inside, a tiny little part of his heart jumping up and down in sheer joy of having his first birthday gift ever. Speaking of which...he thought he grounded the child. And Marvolo knows Hadrianus will not disobey him like that. Then why did he...?