𝒮𝓉𝑜𝓇𝓂'𝓈 𝒜 𝐵𝓇𝑒𝓌𝒾𝓃'

September 6th, 1994

𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒯𝒽𝒾𝓇𝓉𝑒𝑒𝓃

"Happy Birthday."

Iris's lips pulled back in the beginnings of a sneer, "Don't go just shouting that out."

Theodore rolled his eyes as he turned the page of his book, "Brought you a plate. And Lupin sent you a letter."

Iris hummed as she sat herself on the floor next to Theodore's legs at height with the coffee table. She grabbed for her letter.

The Slytherin Common Room was never particularly full. Even on the coldest and rainiest of days there tended to be warmer spots to lounge inside than in the open air of the dungeons. And on the warmer and sunny days, lives were better spent soaking in the heat and stretching your legs out on the grounds.

So when it was a Saturday and a perfect day to be outside... the common room may as well of been a wasteland. At least on Sundays, there was the rush to get an assignment done, but on Saturdays, no one was there after breakfast. There were always exceptions, of course, maybe just a group who wanted to have a lazy day or enjoy a game of chess inside... but with it so early in the school year. No one was quite ready for a lazy day.

So the only two exceptions that Saturday were Iris Blackwell, who had slept until ten, and Theodore Nott, who promised their very persistent friends that he would ensure Iris got her breakfast. As his plans would have been to sit in the library and read, he was least inconvenienced, just settling for reading in the common room while waiting.

So it was quiet, but in the best way really. The Slytherin Common Room was partially under the lake. Without any direct access to the outside, the room itself never screamed with the intensity of the sun. Instead, the water distorted the light, bringing in the gentlest of blue glows that washed over you. Near the windows, you could almost hear the muffled rumbles and whispers of the water, as if you yourself were submerged within.

It could be haunting... cold... lonely... water can be a scary place after all. But to some, it was the truest form of serenity. To let the water wash over you as you sink into the unnatural peace it provides.

The dungeons... just as they were at night, were a sort of haunting beauty in the day. Not everyone can appreciate it, but those who could... would find few places better.

"Perks mentioned they were all heading off to the Quidditch Pitch. Some of the older years have permission to still practice to keep up with the game for students eyeing going professional."

Iris's lips quipped as she bit into a blueberry. Eyes still reading through Remus' letter, she mumbled, "Sally-Ann is helping Tracey explore options now that she is allowing herself to do so." Iris laughed briefly, tilting her head back onto the couch to get a view of Theodore, "She is going to be a monster once Sally-Ann corrupts her for good. Finally realizing that you weren't all that great has broadened her worldview."

In typical Theodore Nott fashion, Theodore didn't react to the personal attack... but in typical Iris fashion... that never stopped her. Still staring him down from where her neck had awkwardly laid, she smiled wide, "It's as if she is just seeing the world for the first time. She called McLaggen's butt cute the other day. And has been nonstop about how Cedric's hair is fluffy, and how those Weasley twins have nice arms, and—"

"And I was the one who had blinded her to it all."

Iris blinked. Not really quite sure how to take that for a moment. Not when he had made direct eye contact as he said it. Not as he was so sure. Not as his eyes shined in his own pride.

He was right after all... something about Theodore Nott had blinded Tracey Davis to every other boy on the planet. And as Iris was slowly learning... he at least wasn't shy. But except for that surprising level of confidence from the token loner, Iris still didn't see it.