Lost in Hollywood

The Half-Blood Prince

Sky stood at Cody's front door, holding a birthday present in her hands. For a short moment she hesitated before pressing the doorbell - Maybe I shouldn't have come? This was a stupid idea—

But she was here already, the gift was beautifully wrapped and the only thing that was more stupid than showing up at a birthday party uninvited, was surely running away without even giving the gift, right?

The door opened almost as soon as she had rang the doorbell, and Leigh appeared in the doorway. She was wearing a gorgeous, fluffy, dark blue dress with Ravenclaw embroideries - clearly custom-made for her - with a robe and a Wizard hat. Her blond hair which was usually on thick braids, was now arranged in flawless curls around her round face. She looked absolutely beautiful.

"Sky!" She exclaimed, delighted. "I didn't know you were coming to my party! Or are you here to see Cody?"

Sky answered her smile. "I'm here to see you, birthday girl. I heard it's your special day, and I wanted to bring you a small gift."

"Thank you!" Leigh took the gift Sky offered to her and started unwrapping it excitedly, ripping through the pink, glitter paper. Sky took this small moment to glance over her shoulder - there was a party going on in the house. She heard music, loud chattering, and children's laughter. Several kids wearing Hogwarts uniforms were running around the hall, but Sky couldn't see Cody or his parents. Nervously she bit her lip, wondering what they would think about her being here. Sky might have won Leigh over, but Cody's parents were like living ice sculptures - Sky had never met such cold and heartless people in her life.

But it was too late to have second thoughts now - Leigh had finished unwrapping the gift, and was now examining the small Ravenclaw notebook and a pen that looked like a golden quill.

"I love it! Thank you!" The girl smiled widely. If she thought the gift was cheap and unimpressive, at least she didn't say it. "Do you like Harry Potter too?"

Sky answered her smile. "Of course I do. And I would've been Ravenclaw too. We'd been in the same house."

"Like all the smart ones," Leigh giggled and then took Sky's hand as if it was the most natural thing to do. "Come in, you have to see the owls! They are real, Mom says we'll be able to fly them later. And, we have cake! And chocolate frogs!"

"No, I shouldn't—" Sky started to protest, but Leigh was already pulling her through the doorway into the party and all Sky could do was follow.

"Let's find Cody!" Leigh said, holding the Notebook against her chest. "He's probably in the kitchen— hey, did you know it's his birthday next week? Our birthdays are only a week apart. He's seven years older than me. He'll be 18. Did you know he's going to be eighteen? How old are you?"

Getting to know her, Sky had found out that Leigh was a very talkative little girl. Questions and comments were dropping off her lips in a fast, undisturbed stream as she pushed their way through the crowd, holding Sky's hand.

The house was full - there were dozens of kids in Harry Potter costumes, running around screaming and laughing and when Sky glanced to the living room, she saw a magician dressed as a wizard entertaining a group of smaller kids, and rich-looking adults in designer clothes holding glasses of Champagne or other drinks. Every room seemed to be decorated in Hogwarts style - there were paintings of wizards on the walls, piles of old magic books, and potion bottles on every surface, not to mention candles that were hanging in mid-air in near-invisible strings. 

"Wait, it's Cody's birthday next week?" Sky frowned, turning her attention back to the girl who was pulling her toward the kitchen.

"Yes! Didn't you know? Don't you have a gift for him? I already have a gift, even if he always says he doesn't want anything. But he's turning 18! He's going to be an adult now."