My Dark Lord

Chapter Twenty: The Queen's Birthday Week

Slytherin Girls' Dormitory -- One Week Before December 11

"Alright, witches," I said, smoothing out the emerald velvet planner I'd enchanted myself for the occasion. "We have seven days. One week. If we're going to throw the party of the season, we cannot afford even a hint of disorganisation."

I sat cross-legged on my bed, wand tapping idly against the cover as the girls gathered. Eileen perched beside me, already sketching her to-do list in elegant, fluid strokes. Mara was lounging upside-down across Dahlia's bed, while Calliope was braiding her hair in the mirror and humming.

It had become something of a tradition for the older Slytherins to throw opulent parties in the common room. But a sixteenth birthday? That wasn't just a party. That was an event. Especially when the birthday girl was me.

"This needs to feel like a Galleon banquet with the heart of a dungeon rebellion," I said firmly. "Elegant, a little dangerous, and nothing less than unforgettable."

"And no students below fifth year," Calliope added, twisting a loose curl around her finger. "We are not babysitting hormonal fourth-years who think one firewhiskey turns them into Casanova."

"Agreed," said Mara. "This isn't a school dance. It's a Slytherin legacy moment."

We all leaned over the parchment as I began assigning roles with the precision of a general planning a coup.

"Cal," I said, "you're in charge of drink procurement."

"Obviously," she smirked. "Cassius has already agreed to 'borrow' a few bottles from his family cellar over the weekend. Pure-blood vintage, darling. We'll be drinking better than the professors."

"Mara," I continued, "you're on music. I want something ambient and alluring at first, something we can shift into chaos later in the night."

"Already planning a setlist," she said with a sly grin. "I've enchanted a phonograph to play anything I feed it-- might even sneak in a cursed lullaby for the late hours."

"Eileen," I said more gently, "I want you on spellwork. Subtle enchantments-- mood lighting, temperature regulation, a mild sound-dampening charm so Slughorn doesn't lose his mind."

Eileen nodded seriously. "On it. I'll lace the lighting with glamours. Everyone will look two shades more stunning."

"Dahlia and Mara are in charge of food," I said. "They'll charm the serving trays to hover. And no chocolate frogs this year-- last time they jumped into the fire."

I exhaled, the excitement in my chest rising like a swelling spell. "This party has to solidify everything we've been building. The alliances. The mystique. The power. Everyone talks about Riddle's following, but I want the school to remember who the queen of the dungeons really is."

Calliope stretched and flopped backwards onto her bed. "So, what's the plan for your entrance? You have to arrive late. Make them wait."

"Oh, I will," I said, unable to suppress my grin. "I've already commissioned a new dress. Emerald silk. Custom tailoring. From Paris."

"Paris?" Mara blinked. "What kind of Grindelwald flex is that?"

"The appropriate kind," I replied.

"And Diggory?" Eileen asked softly. "Will he be attending?"

I paused for a moment. "He's been invited."

"What about Riddle?" Calliope asked with a teasing smirk. "Think he'll show up? Or is it too beneath him to drink like the rest of us?"

"If he comes," I said coolly, "he'll come to watch. To observe. He never misses a power shift."

"And you're the one causing it," Eileen said proudly.