Hally Potter

Chapter 11

September 12th

My first weekend I spent with the twins baking mostly while they told me jokes and told me about upcoming pranks. On the second Monday, I spent the time staying away from their pranks but close enough to laugh. All our free classes we spent learning sign in the library and important things needed to know about the wizarding world. Tuesday was spent the same, and Wednesday was split, half I spent baking, and half was studying.

It is now Thursday afternoon, also known as Gryffindor and Slytherin's first flying lessons. Around 4, my group decided to meet in the courtyard, so I am currently on my way there holding a cake I just made. The cake is for Zuri. Today is her birthday.

Randomly, the twins run up to me, "Is it true." They say in sync. 'What?' I write looking up to them, "Is Harry on the team?" Fred asks me. 'What team?' I write tilting my head, George face palms. "Fred, we forgot she's new." He says. "Quidditch," he says before explaining more in depth. 'So Harry might be the new seeker?' I write, both boys nod. 'Let's go see if we can find him.' I write, the boys hook arms with me, and we skip around the halls.

Before we can spot my brother, we spot the captain of the team. "Hiya Oli," Fred says as George and I wave. "Oli, this is Hally. Hals, this is Oliver Wood." George says. 'Hello, nice to meet you!' I write, he reads it before nodding and turning back to the twins. "Harry's official on the team. He's our new seeker." Oliver confirms for us. The boys cheer, "Thanks for the news," Fred says before we spot Harry. I tug George's arm and point to my brother.

"Off we go!" George says, linking our arms again. We skip off and laugh as we arrive in front of my brother, I wave after gathering myself. "Hey, well done, Harry, Wood's just told us!" Fred says. Ron gains his attention, "Fred and George are on the team, too. Beaters." Ron explains. "Our job is to make sure that you don't get bloodied up too bad. Can't make any promises, of course. Rough game, Quidditch." George explains.

"Brutal. But no one's died in years. Someone will vanish occasionally. " Fred adds. I spot Zuri and tug on the twins, waving bye to my brother and friends. "But they'll turn up in a month or two!" George jokes as we walk across the courtyard to Zuri that we just spotted.

"Hi Zuri," George says when we get in front of the girl sitting in the grass reading. I sit down with her criss cross and ask what book she's reading. Before she looks up, I hide the boxed cake behind my back.

"Hey, and I'm reading up on potions." Zuri tells us as the boys sit on my sides, "Hi George, Hi Fred," she says, waving amd setting the book down as Akemi skips happily over to us dragging two boys, one being Dorian. I sign 'Hello' to him as they sit near us. "Everyone, this is Ezra," Akemi says. We greet the new friend. Akemi and I make eye contact before she nods.

I clap my hands, grabbing everyone's attention. "Zuri, we've known each other since me and you were little. And we recently welcomed Hals into our group, so she wanted to do something special for today." She says, slowly waiting for Zuri to put it together. Zuri puts her book down and narrows her eyes at me, "You better not have got me anything," she says.

'It didn't cost anything,' I write, pulling the cake out from behind my back carefully. Zuri's jaw drops, and her eyes tear up, "Happy birthday," she reads. "It's your birthday!?" Fred exclaims, making me giggle. "Well, we must sing to you now," George adds before starting to sing. The whole group joins in as I place and light candles on the cake. Zuri smiles wide as they finish singing, and we clap.

She thanked us once more before blowing out the candles, as we clapped once more. Akemi hands me a knife and a small stack of plates. I asked Fred to cut it as George cracks jokes to Zuri. He does, and I carefully plate the first piece and hand it to Zuri. She thanked me before Akemi hands her a fork, and she thanks her too.

Fred cuts the rest of the cake as I plate it and pass it out. Akemi hands forks out as we all start eating. I thank Fred before finishing my cake as everyone tells me how good it is. I smile and thank them as we all clean up. "Crap, almost curfew," George says, noticing the time.

"Well, we'll walk you guys back to your dorm," Fred says, helping me up. Along the way, they crack jokes, making everyone laugh.

We wave bye to Dorian and Ezra as they are going the other way before we keep walking and making jokes. When we get to the door, the twins offer to take the dishes to the kitchen, so we thank them before letting Zuri answer the riddle upon her request. Of course, she answers correctly, making the door swing open.

"Well, we'll let you ladies get some sleep. Thanks for hanging today," the twins say in sync. I giggle and hug them both, "You're welcome to join our group anytime," Akemi says, as Zuri nods, agreeing. The twins wish her happy birthday once last time before Akemi pulls Zuri in the dormitory.

'Thanks for all the fun chats today. Talk tomorrow?' I write as I pull away. "Always, sleep well, Hals," George says. Fred nods along, "See you at breakfast!" He says as I walk into the common room. Zuri and Akemi wave be over to their table, "Look, Kemi wrote this for me," Zuri says, tearing up. I smile, "It's a birthday tradition," Akemi explains, making me smile wider at their sweetness.

Kimiko comes over to tell us goodnight right as we decide to head to bed. We tell her goodnight, and Akemi and Zuri hug her goodnight as she wishes Zuri happy birthday. As we open the door, we spot Piper writing a letter. "Hi Piper," Zuri says, going to their side of the room. Piper hurriedly puts the letter away before softly saying hello and rushing to the bathroom.

"Well, that was weird," Akemi says, we nod before Akemi tells us she's gonna go get dressed, too. Zuri sits down and places the letter in a box in her nightstand. I snap, getting her attention, 'Good birthday?'

Zuri immediately nods, "Was a perfect first birthday to spend with you," she says, smiling widely at me. I make my hands form a heart. "You're the best, Hal," She says, smiling as she grabs her clothes. I grab my clothes and we walk to the bathroom together. While we walk in, we spot Akemi and Piper in absolute silence. Piper spots us and leaves as we start getting ready.

I tilt my head to Akemi as Zuri voices my thoughts, "What was that about?" She asks for us. "I asked who the letter was from," Akemi explains, frowning. "Just when she was liking us," Akemi says as her voice shakes. "What'd she say?" Zuri asks as I rub Akemi's arm and one hand brush my teeth.

"That I needed to mind my own business," Akemi says before a couple of tear drops fall. I stopped brushing my teeth to tell her it wasn't her fault. Zuri agrees, and Akemi smiles lightly, and we all continue getting ready. When we're done, we head to our room and see Piper is already asleep. I write goodnight to the girls, and they say it back before we all lay down and head to sleep.