Nightmare (Harry Potter OC Fic)

17. Happy Surprises

With exams and the third task coming up, the entire school was on edge. Stress was eating at Kei, their nose in a book every moment of every day and the threat of hexing whoever bothered them was on the tip of their tongue all the time. May flew past in an instant and it was finally June. And to furthermore sour her mood, it was her birthday.

None of her friends acknowledged it.

Kei had only gotten one owl, from her brother, and that was the extent of her festivities. There was a small bubble of hope when Tiberius invited her to go to Hogsmeade with him. She grew excited at the newfound civility of the group: All of her friends were sitting around a table, talking with one another, without fighting.

"Well, this is nice."

Gina looked up from whatever Jaqen was showing her and smiled, "I threatened them with a proper hex if they fought any longer."

The Hufflepuff laughed at the comment and rolled her eyes, sitting in between Silas and Tiberius. But that was the extent of the festivities. No 'happy birthdays,' no presents, no acknowledgement. Kei watched as her friends acted as though it was a normal day. I stopped studying for. . . nothing, they thought sourly.

By dinner, Kei was completely displeased with her friends. They missed her birthday. Even Tiberius was ignoring her, having sat with the Lestrange twins and Silas. She was alone.

Not having an appetite, Kei left the Great Hall without touching her dinner. She didn't spare the group a second look before booking it to the Hufflepuff dorms. Just shy of changing into her pyjamas, a timid first year knocked on Kei's dorm door.

"There's a Slytherin shouting about letting her in," she whispered.

Kei sighed and knew it was most likely Gina, "Did she threaten you?"

The poor Hufflepuff nodded frantically and looked as though they would cry if they spoke.

"I apologize for her. I'll go address her," Kei smiled softly at the first year.

She was all but fuming when Kei stepped outside of the common room to see a joyful Slytherin rocking on her feet.

"There you are, Sunflower."

"Gina, you completely terrified that first year! I'm taking five points off from Slytherin. You can't do that," Kei lectured.

Gina simply rolled her eyes and grabbed Kei's wrist, pulling her through the corridor. Before she could question her friend, Gina opened the passage to Slytherin and ushered Kei towards the dorms. There was no time to catch their bearings as Kei stumbled down the steps, catching themselves just before they face planted into the wall.

A door opened to her left and Gina pushed her in. The only sense that worked was her sense of smell; it smelled like guys.

Just as she made the connection, the candlelights flickered on and confetti was thrown at her. Kei squealed in surprise as her eyes focused. In front of her stood Tiberius, Vic, Silas, and Gina.

"Surprise! Happy Birthday, Kei," they chorused.

Silas gave Kei a shy smile while Tiberius beamed at her. Vic and Gina had begun to argue about the execution of the surprise. Kei's eyes began to water as she took in the scene. Yellow and purple streamers were decorated on every four post beds, a makeshift table of trunks held all kinds of sweets and salty treats, a badly arranged bouquet of flowers were held in Tiberius' hands, and a small pile of presents were stacked on Vic's bed.

"I thought– what," Kei breathed.

"Frankie, you really think we'd forget your birthday?" mused Tiberius. "That I would forget your birthday?"