Illicit Affairs

THREE

"That old, blonde bitch!" Kira hissed as she stormed to the Slytherin table, clutching a newspaper in hand. Albus gave her a questioning look, though his thoughts still lingered on the conversation with Scorpius.

She threw the newspaper onto the table, nearly spilling Potter's morning coffee. "That bitch, Rita Skeeter," she continued, her voice dripping with anger. "She wrote yet another snarky article about me. Is she obsessed with me or what?"

"Well..." Scorpius scratched his white-blond hair. "You're quite known, you know? Miss Black this, miss Black that..."

Just as she was about to launch into a full-blown rant, Rose appeared, holding a beautifully decorated box. Her red hair was pulled back in a loose bun, and her freckles stood out against her fair skin.

"Happy birthday, Riri!" Rose beamed, her smile fading into confusion. "Have I missed something?"

Kira's anger melted away, replaced by surprise. She glanced at Albus, who was equally bewildered.

“Now open your present!" Rose handed her the gift

Kira tore open the wrapping paper, revealing a delicate silver bracelet with tiny star-shaped charms. It sparkled in the morning light, and Kira's eyes widened.

"It's beautiful," she whispered, touched by Rose's thoughtfulness.

Rose grinned. "Well, you deserve something special. And don't worry about Skeeter. She's just jealous of all the beautiful young girls. She's old and wrinkled now, I suppose."

Kira laughed, feeling a warmth in her chest. Rita could write all the snarky articles she wanted, but Kira had friends who saw beyond the headlines.

As if on cue, Albus slid a small package across the table. "Happy birthday, Kira," he said, his green eyes twinkling. Inside was a stack of sweets—chocolate frogs, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, and a packet of Fizzing Whizbees. Albus knew her weakness for sugar.

Scorpius leaned in, his expression mischievous. "And from me..." He handed her a well-worn paperback. The cover featured a couple locked in a passionate embrace. "A romance novel. Thought you might enjoy it."

Kira raised an eyebrow. "Scorpius, you do realize I'm not a swooning damsel, right?"

He shrugged. "Hey, everyone needs a little escapism now and then, right? Next time I'll get you a murder mystery book, okay?"

They chatted, their voices blending with the hum of other students. The Great Hall was alive with energy—plates clinking, laughter, and the occasional owl hooting from the rafters.

"So," Kira said, leaning back, "why does Rita write articles all about me and not, hmm, your brother?" She nodded toward Albus. "James is Harry Potter's eldest child, a Gryffindor Captain, a Seventh-year, and a future Quidditch star, I suppose."

Albus grinned. "Maybe she's secretly in love with you."

Kira rolled her eyes. "Right. Because that's the logical explanation."

As they continued their banter, Kira glanced around the hall. She adjusted her new bracelet, the star-shaped charms glinting, and decided that maybe birthdays weren't so bad after all. Even with snarky journalists lurking about. The group's banter was interrupted by the morning Mail Delivery.