She was a misfit, he was a git.
Matilda Diggory enters her fifth year of school, ready to remain as under the radar as possible, only there's a catch. She's somehow managed to catch the eye of a particularly annoying redhead, who seems hell-bent on...
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The morning of September 24th was particularly important.
It was Matilda Diggory's 17th birthday.
She awoke to find her room already empty, which was unusual given it was a Saturday morning. She swung her legs over the side of her bed and slipped her feet into her shoes, wrapping her dressing gown around her torso.
A small box was placed on the edge of her nightstand, along with a letter. She reached for the parchment first, unfolding it.
Dear Matilda,
Happy 17th, darling.
Your mother and I wish you the best. Please tell us what you get up to!
Love,
Amos and Catherine Diggory
She scoffed at the letter's short contents, discarding it for the box. Normally, when a witch or wizard turned seventeen, they received a family watch. If it was a witch, she could expect to receive a watch from her fathers side of the family, and vice versa if it was a wizard. Matilda wondered whose watch would become hers and eagerly untied the ribbon, revealing...
A ring.
It was beautiful — a golden band decorated with a peridot gemstone at the centre, hugged by two smaller diamonds. An heirloom, but...not a watch. She bit back the lump in her throat — disappointment or anger, she didn't know — and slid the ring onto her finger.
Silently, she accepted her position in her family.
Matilda made her way down the stairs, moving with the speed that only came the day after a full moon, and grinned when she saw her friends.
They all shouted when she came around the bend. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"
Angelina tackled her into a hug and Matilda had to take a few steps back to steady herself. "Thank you!"
Alicia was next, squeezing her tightly. "Happy birthday, Tilly."
Suddenly, two people were on either side of her, wrapping her arms around their necks.
"You should be careful now," said the twins.
"We don't want you breaking any bones," George said as they walked her over to one of the couches.
They lowered her down and Fred added, "You should watch your bone density, Nana. Start drinking more milk."
Matilda rolled her eyes, "I'm not old."
They exchanged a look. She whacked them on the arm. "I'm not."
"Alright, alright..." George said, smirking.
"So, we've got something for you, Diggory," Fred said, grinning mischievously as he slid a large, wooden box towards her. It had intricate carvings etched into the surface, symbols she recognised from Ancient Runes. Her eyes widened in surprise.
