Blood Traitor

7.

Ana can't help herself and grins like a maniac as she enters the Gryffindor common room and sees how much effort her best friends have put into her birthday. The room is decorated and Lily, Sebastian, Albus and Scorpius are waiting for her. She is led to the big red chair in the room and is given the most ridiculous party hat she has ever seen before Lily pushes a piece of cake into her hands. "Lily ate the decorations off it she had no patience again" Albus says as he gives Lily an angry look who in return rolls her eyes at him. "No problem, I am grateful for all the effort you put into my birthday, thank you very much." Ana takes a bite of the cake while Lily looks at her with wide eyes waiting for her reaction, Ana tries to keep the cake in her mouth while she fake smiles and gives a thumbs up. The cake is inedible but the idea is sweet.

"Eighteen, that's quite an age." Ana nods approvingly to Scorpius while she tries to spit out the cake without Lily noticing. "And then having to celebrate with Mattheo Riddle, poor Ana." Everyone looks expectantly at Ana who looks around the room in surprise. "It wasn't that bad, it was quite nice, he was very friendly and made a lot of jokes." The room falls silent and her friends look at each other. "Are we talking about the same person?" Scorpius asks to which Ana nods. "Yes, Mattheo Riddle right?"

"Watch out Ana, Mattheo is never nice without it benefiting him." Ana scoffs to the annoyance of her friends. "I have nothing to offer him and it's not like we're suddenly friends, he was nice that's it...... and he told me that he and Patty aren't a couple even though she would like that." Albus nods approvingly after Ana's statement. "That's right, Scorpius and I figured that out too, but Patty is planning all sorts of things.... as if she's taking matters into her own hands.... but Mattheo must have something to do with it.... now that you and Mattheo are okay with each other, maybe you can find out?"

It doesn't feel right to judge Mattheo after what he did today and to interrogate him. He showed a different side of himself and Ana is going to abuse that now, what if he really has nothing to do with everything that seems to be happening, what if he really is like he showed today and Ana is betraying his trust? Ana looks around the room and at the hopeful eyes of her friends who she also doesn't want to disappoint. Ana nods and everyone looks relieved and thanks her for wanting to keep an eye on Mattheo and interrogate him.

Ana has no idea where this extreme guilt comes from, why she has trouble following the conversations her friends are having . It must be a sad sight, her sitting there with a party hat and a vacant look staring into space thinking of a boy she spoke to once. "Come on, open your presents!" Lily hands Ana the first present, her present from Lily's judging by her look. Ana picks at the roll of tape Lily has wrapped around the wrapping paper. "Wrapping is a skill in itself." Ana laughs and decides that saving paper is pointless and tears open the paper, revealing a yellow bow. "Thank you Lily, I think it's beautiful!" Ana has complimented Lily on her beautiful red bow that she sometimes wears in her hair when she hasn't overslept.

"Here you go Ana, this is from Scorpius, Sebastian and myself." Albus hands her a perfectly wrapped box. This must have been done by Sebastian, a large ribbon finishes the box, it is almost a shame to open it....

The box is filled with all the candy that Ana likes from Hogsmade and just like Ana, Lily is just as enthusiastic about the candy. There is another box on the table, a beautiful green box with a yellow ribbon tied together in a bow. Ana thanks the three boys and takes the last box on her lap. When she opens the box she can't believe her eyes. "How did you get this?" Ana can't hide her enthusiasm and jumps up while holding the magazine in her hands. "What is it?" Sebastian asks curiously. "A Quibler written by my godmother Luna Lovegood, she wrote this during her time at Hogwarts, this is the first copy missing from Luna's private collection, I can't wait to read this..... you guys are amazing, how did you find this?"

The foursome look at each other questioningly ... "Is that yours?" - "No?" - "Did you give her that as a present?" - "No? - "Me neither"

"The present is not from us Ana." Ana does not respond to their answer she is too happy with the magazine and can not believe that she actually has it in her hands, she has been looking for it for years and in the library the first copy was nowhere to be found. Luna is going to love this just like Ana.

"Ana, there's a card in the box." Ana is finally pulled out of her enthusiastic absence. Her hand trembles with excitement as she takes the piece of parchment out of the box.

I think you're looking for this? Hopefully you'll be happy with it.

M.R

Ana looks at her friends with red cheeks. "There's no name on it..." Ana knows she has to be honest but her friends already think so badly of the boy if she also tells them that he gave her the gift she's been looking for for years they'll think there's something behind it. Maybe that's true but after this afternoon Ana has subconsciously decided to give him a chance and after receiving the Quibler in her hands this feeling has only become stronger.