Till Forever Falls Apart

Chapter Nineteen: Harry's Birthday

It was officially Harry's twelfth birthday, and Marlene's Gringotts vault was weeping.

    Metaphorically of course, but nevertheless, the aunt decided to take the party under her wings this year.

    "Twelve is a big number," Marlene reasoned as she followed Lily around the kitchen, pestering her with reasons as to why she should be the one to throw it. "You've gotten every other year. I think it's my turn."

    Lily put her book down and looked at her friend, unable to ignore her any longer.

    "You can't bring firewhiskey."

    "You think so little of me!" Marlene scoffed. "It's the boy's birthday-he won't be drinking any!"

    "But will you?"

    Marlene sniffed, holding her head high. "I'm responsible."

    "Okay then," Lily gave her a satisfied smile. "You plan the party, bring all the decorations, arrange the food, and make the guest list. The theme is all yours."

    And Marlene worked like never before. With Mary's help, of course.

    They worked tirelessly over the next few days, asking Harry what color scheme he liked (Val told him that being a Gryffindor was starting to become his only personality trait after he had told their aunts red and gold). The guest list was at least two feet along, tiny names scrunched together on the piece of paper to fit all of the people the two women had in mind.

    "I don't know some of these people!" Harry protested as he read down the list of names.

    "But they know you, Harry," Marlene said as she filtered through records Sirius had brought to the house. "You're popular."

    And when the night had arrived for the party, Val was astonished. Harry was popular.

    Sirius, Remus, and Val had offered to help get things ready the day of the event, but had gone home an hour or two before to change. When they had come back, they could hear the muffled voices harmonizing on the record, and the even louder shrieks of laughter and talking as they walked up the steps and opened the door.

    Val had to hand it to her aunt. That woman knew how to throw a party, even if it was a child's party.

    Wizards of all ages crowded the halls of the Potter home, chattering amongst themselves with glasses of amber-colored drinks in their glasses. Marlene had stuck to her promise, pouring butterbeer into fancy champagne flutes as her eyes landed on the three that had just come in.

    "You're back!" Her blonde hair bounced in curls as she skated over, a maroon dress wrapped tightly around her figure.

    "I thought Harry was turning twelve," Remus shouted to be heard over the music. "Not twenty."

    "What are you talking about?" Marlene waved his comment away. "Look at the kids! They're doing fine!"

    Hermione and Ron had come, and catching Val's eyes they motioned her over. The young girl could feel the beat of the music through the floor as she joined her three friends in the corner.

    "Some birthday, eh?" Harry had his knees pulled up to his chest, eating a cauldron cake as he traded cards with Ron from the chocolate frogs he had been given.

    "Do we even know these people?" Val watched James glide from person to person, striking up immediate conversations with people unknown to her.

    "Some are from the Ministry, people they knew at school," Harry shrugged. "I'm fine with it, really. I only asked for you three to be put on the list."