Returning Home

Birthday Reveal

Gwyn and Draco had been non stop exchanging letters for the past two days trying to make sure today went perfectly. Together they had compiled a list of the bare necessities that Harry might need as a beginner to the wizarding world, to include but not limited to: copies of beginner theory books, wizarding customs books, pens that had quill tips for him to practice writing with, a guide to the most ancient and noble houses and a few books on their history. They were hoping that wherever he was that he knew of his heritage but were prepared for the worst. The only reason Gwyn knew as much as she did was her eidetic memory and the research she had been doing since she returned under the guidance of her grandparents and Lord Death.

To say that she was nervous would be an understatement. She had all of the items she and Draco had decided he might need in the worst case scenario packed away inside of a mokeskin pouch with an added undetectable extension charm on it. She had sent Maeve to get one when she realized there was no way they would be able to fit everything inside of the transport box she had bought. Most of the morning and afternoon had been spent checking and rechecking the items in the bag and then going over the small birthday meal that she had Maeve preparing for him. She had absolutely no idea what sort of food he might like or if he had a preference on cake or pie if he didn't even like dessert at all.

Originally she had thought to simply have Maeve take her to Harry to deliver the gifts in person but had immediately scrapped the idea. If she been the one in Harry's place she could only imagine how badly she would have reacted to a stranger appeared in her room in the middle of the night, claiming to have known her as a child. It didn't take very much debating to throw out the idea as insane. Then she had thrown away the original letter she had written him and the next two as well. She had finally perfected what she wanted to say right before dinner and did her best not to rush through it. Now she was back in her rooms, soaking in the bath while she tried not to fidget and Nero and Nagini did their best to act like her nerves weren't frayed over a simple birthday gift.

She had decided to send the gift at exactly midnight, that way it would be the first thing Harry saw on his birthday. She had no idea if he would even be awake but if not then he would wake up to the presents from her and Draco and if she was lucky then he would read the letter. A million and one different scenarios ran through her mind ranging from him being awake and promptly refusing Maeve and anything she held all the way to him waking up to the gifts and throwing them out entirely. Anything could happen really and as time was drawing ever nearer the less she let herself hope for the best case scenario.

When it was only thirty minutes left until midnight she left the bath, quickly getting dressed and taking her copy of the twin journals with her to her bed and curling up with her favorite blanket. She also took out Tom's wand and twirled it around in her hand. The more she was around his things the more comfort she felt. She had thought briefly of taking his wand with her whenever she had to leave but had quickly tossed that idea to the side, if anything had happened to his wand she would never forgive herself. She instead would just be grateful for the presence of his magic in the bracelet that he had made for her.

When it was just five minutes left until midnight Maeve had come into her rooms, collecting the presents for Harry and dropping off the miniature birthday meal. She had taken one look at Gwyn in the center of her bed and shook her head fondly, snapping her fingers to move the items from Gwyn's desk over to the bed beside her. She couldn't do anything but give the elf a grateful smile, nervously fidgeting with the quill in her hands. With one last nod in her direction Maeve had popped away, leaving Gwyn to her thoughts and the exasperated glances from her companions.

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Far away from the unplottable location of Peverell Castle was one young and unassuming Harry Potter. He had laid awake that night as he had done every night since his Aunt Petunia had begrudgingly admitted to him when his birthday was. He had an alarm set on the little radio clock on one of his shelves, the radio part was broken but he didn't mind. While he waited he drew a small birthday cake in the dust of the underside of the stairs above him, marking ten candles. Once the small beeps started to sound from the clock he closed his eyes, blowing away the dust and wishing beyond anything to have someone who cared.