Forever... Always

Summer - 13th Birthday

13. I'm 13 today. It just seems insane that just 2 years ago on this day, I'd gotten my letter from Hogwarts. Just think of everything that's happened. I got my barn owl Daisy, I met Cedric, I became a Hufflepuff, I got my period, we moved into our new house, I met Amber, I became the Seeker on our quidditch team, my first crush came and went and throughout it all, Georgie and Freddie had been there for me and me for them. I can't wait to get back to Hogwarts to see what this year has in store for me.
To celebrate my birthday this year, everyone is coming to our house, as they'd done on my 11th birthday, but this time we're at our new house. It'll be a little different than my 11th birthday because for starters, I'm not having Pumpkin pastries as my cake and this year, I have a bunch of friends I can invite. As usual, the Wealseys are coming, excluding Bill and Charlie because they've both graduated and moved out of the Burrows. Both sets of grandparents are coming again, but so is Uncle Amos and Cedric, Amber, Marcus, Ash, Lora and Starling. The twins helped me write my invitations when I was at the Burrows for Charlie's graduation party. I had also sent an invitation to Draguar, Chloe, Thornton and Linden. Draguar was flattered I'd thought of him and politely declined because his parents wouldn't let him, which I knew would be the case but I still wanted to remind him he's my friend. Thornton told me he was on a trip to Greece and Linden told me he was visiting family in Ireland. Chloe is Bryony's best friend and she declined because of what happened with Chester, Bryony and I.
These few weeks leading up to my birthday have been odd, Aunt Molly, Uncle Arthur, Uncle Amos and dad have all been talking more than ever about 'the boy who lived' and how he's coming of age. They're very secretive about it and won't tell us kids what's going on, well, that was until Ron heard them talking today and burst into my room to tell us all.
"I KNEW THAT SENTENCE, 'THE BOY WHO LIVED' SOUNDED FAMILIAR, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HARRY POTTER!" He shouted to us all.
"Like the Harry Potter? The one who survived the killed curse?" Lora asked in disbelief.
"The one who made He-who-must-not-be-named disappear?" Marcus asked dumbly.
"The famous Harry Potter?" The twins asked together.
"YES AND HE'S MY AGE, MEANING HE'LL COME TO HOGWARTS THIS YEAR!" Ron exclaimed, seeming incredibly excited.
"So that's what they meant when our parents said he was coming of age." Cedric said piecing things together.
Starling and Ash just stared at Ron with their jaws dropped, Ginny seemed bashful after hearing Harry's name and Amber and I just looked at each other confused until one of us became brave enough to ask.
"So, who's Harry Potter?" I asked.
"Who's He-who-must-not-be-named?" Amber followed my question.
"He-who-must-not-be-named is the wizard behind the Wizarding War, he hates anyone muggle-borns and tried to take over the Wizarding world. He killed James and Lily Potter and tried to kill Harry too but he survived the curse and He-who-must-not-be-named had disappeared since." Lora told us.
"As she already said, Harry is their son, he survived the killing curse and now, he'll be coming to Hogwarts this fall." Ron told us.
"Why are our parents being so secretive about it then if it's a good thing?" I asked as if they'd have the answers.
"Because we don't want the poor kid to feel overwhelmed being called 'The famous Harry Potter' for something he probably doesn't remember." Dad said as he walked in the room.
"Oliver's got a point, Harry's been without parents and will be going to Hogwarts with no idea of what the Wizarding world is like." Aunt Molly said as she came around the corner. "And Ron, eavesdropping is very rude."
"Just try to make him feel welcome." Uncle Amos said appearing in the doorway as well. "Rayne, I know you'd do a fantastic job of making him feel like family."
"He's right Rayne, despite having a small family, you know how to make everyone feel loved and like they matter." Cedric said, winking at me.
"The quidditch team has never felt more like a family than now." Lora added.
"Is it time for cake yet?" Freddie joked.
"Let's go see." I laughed.
We all headed down to the living room, everyone found a seat somewhere and they began singing 'happy birthday' as mom came into the room from the kitchen with my cake. Thirteen candles sit on top of chocolate cake that has Rayne written in yellow with little white daisies.
"This is a beautiful cake, merci Maman (thank you)." I said admiring her skill and talent she put into it.
"Aunt Natalie wouldn't let us help because it's the first year you didn't want pastries." Jelly bean stated.
"She let me pick the daisies." Ginny told me shyly.
"You always know which one to pick Ginny." I told her.
"Make a wish kiddo." Dad told me.
Just like my 11th birthday, I don't know what to wish for, I have all the people I could ever wish for here, I have a wonderful house and family, I have Daisy, I have Freddie, Cedric and Jelly bean. Then in a matter of seconds, I realized that I want someone else to be around this house, someone to make memories with when Cedric, George and Fred aren't around, I want for a sibling, in one way or another.
"What did you wish for?" Ash asked me as we ate.
"Can't tell you or it won't come true. You know that." I laughed.
After we finished eating and I opened all my presents, we went outside. We all sat and talked while some Beatles records played gently in the background. After a while Dad called to Ash, Marcus and Amber that their parents were here to pick them up. Starling and Lora got picked up not long after and that left Cedric, Fred, George, Ron, Ginny and I. We went back inside to find Aunt Molly, Uncle Arthur and Percy gathering their things.
"I'm sorry dear that Percy is so uptight, hopefully he'll be more pleasant the next time we come over or you come to the Burrows." She told me, pulling me into a hug and giving a deadly glare to Percy.
"Hope it was a good birthday Rayne." Percy said to me in an almost sour tone.
"Come Ron and Ginny, we're going home now." Uncle Arthur told them.
"Goodbye Rayne, see you soon hopefully." Ginny told me cheerfully before leaving.
"Goodbye Cedric, hope it was a wonderful birthday Rayne." Uncle Amos said as he left as well.
"Alright kiddos, the basement is yours, why don't you watch the new movie you got?" Dad suggested.
"Great idea, what do you say guys?"
"Why not?" Fred and George said.
"Sure!" Cedric confirmed.
We all got set up on the couch, Cedric on my one side and George on the other with Fred beside him. We all sat under a blanket and watched my new DVD, 'My Girl'. When the sad part came around, I leaned my head on Georgie's shoulder as I shed a few tears and he put his arm around me, pulling me closer. Once the movie was over, we went upstairs to my room.
"Want to listen to a song or two?" I said pointing at my record player.
"Absolutely." George told me excitedly.
"Is that even a question?" Fred joked.
"Did I miss something?" Cedric asked confused.
"During Christmas break we listened to a song or two before going to bed every night." I told him.
"Well then, pop a record on." He laughed.
"Play some Elvis, we've been listening to the Beatles all day." Fred said.
*'Blue Suede Shoes' starts playing*
I sang while Fred and I danced until the song ended. We both looked at each other and laughed.
"Can you play 'Jailhouse Rock'?" Georgie asked me.
"Only if you and Cedric promise to at least dance."
"Fine. What about you Ced?"
"Ok, if we're all doing it, I bet it can't be too bad."
*'Jailhouse Rock' starts playing*
We all danced and sang. We made fools of ourselves in front of each other but it was alright because we were all doing it. We laughed together about our weird dance moves and the boys' voice cracks mid-line. I hadn't realized how much all their voices were dropping. Either way, Cedric and Freddie got comfy on the air mattress while Jelly bean and I cuddled up in my bed, just as we'd done during Christmas break. I like things like this, everything is pleasant, joyous and has purpose. I wish it could be like this forever... always.