Amelia Merlin

Part Ninety Five: Fourteenth Birthday

"Amy!" The wonderful, dark haired boy leaned in and hugged her. "It's so great to see you! Happy birthday!"

Amelia beamed at Oliver Rivers. "It's so awesome to see you too! And thank you." she laughed lightly.

"Birthday girl!" Dean and Seamus roared. They ran over to her and picked her up, hoisting her on their shoulders chanting, "Birthday girl!"

When they put her down, Amelia saw Terry Boot had also arrived. Part of her was hoping that he wouldn't, but she would make the best of it now that he was here. "Happy birthday, Amy." he said.

"Thank you, and please, call me Amelia." she said as politely as she could.

"Amelia," he corrected himself. "It really is a beautiful name."

"That's why I like it!" she said forcibly.

"Amelia!" Neville walked in and hugged her. "You look lovely! Not that I'm hitting on you! You just look very nice today! N-not to say that you don't l-look nice every other day too-" he stammered.

"Thank you, Neville!" she laughed. "You're too kind."

The group walked in to the dining room where dinner was waiting for them. Glapp had prepared a beautiful feast that had a total of six courses. Everyone was delighted and the food was wonderful. Amelia could hardly contain her happiness.

"Amelia?"Lavender asked.

"What?"

"Is Fred stopping by?"

"What?"

"Fred-"

"Yes I know who Fred is!"

"Yeah well, is he coming?"

"I don't think so."

"Why not?"

"He and George are really busy lately." It was true. The twins had been working all summer on little trinkets they were trying to produce. Anytime Amelia was free, they were busy, and when ever they were free, Amelia had been away at meetings or something. So she'd barely seen her best friend all summer. She was missing him terribly but hadn't allowed herself to feel it, because Fred hadn't been feeling the same at all. She'd seen him once, when she walked over for dinner one night. And he had barely spoken to her. So in a stubborn sense, she didn't want to let him win. Not that there was a competition exactly, but she felt stupid whenever she missed him. So Amelia decided not to do that anymore.

"What are they up to?" Terry asked.

"Making these little things. They're going to open up a joke shop one day and this is the start of it." she shrugged.

"Wow!"Neville said in awe.  "That sounds amazing!"

"They're so cool. I can't wait to see what they come up with!" Dean enthused.

"I'd totally buy things from them." Seamus agreed.

"They're really smart." Parvati said quietly.

Amelia felt herself getting irritated with all the hype that was going on about the twins. But nobody seemed to be picking up on it. For at least five whole minutes, which felt like an hour, everyone was just talking about how great Fred and George were, until Oliver spoke up.

"I think it's time for gifts!" he said loudly, just as Seamus was explaining the pure genius of the twins' tactics during a Quidditch game.

Amelia sent Oliver a silent thank you, and he seemed to receive it because he gave her a small nod and a smile. Everyone went into the library and chose a couch to sit on.