HERMIONE! Wake up! You have to get up and open your presents before breakfast!" Ginny screamed as she jumped on Hermione's bed. The other girls in the dorm groaned before laughing. Everyone grabbed their gifts and gave them to Hermione as she mock-glared at Ginny, "Isn't the girl with the birthday supposed to be allowed to wake when she wishes?"
Ginny just grinned, "Not when so many people want her to wake up so they can wish her happy birthday!"
Hermione rolled her eyes in good humor at the red-head who jumped off her bed. "Get ready and come down to the common room."
Hermione sat on the edge of her bed as the other girls got ready for the day and left. She was 17. She was an adult in the wizarding world now. She stood and looked in the mirror as she dressed. She didn't look any different from yesterday, but something felt a little off for the day. If she hadn't been searching for changes, she never would have noticed. But something, as miniscule as it may be, felt different and she couldn't explain it.
As Hermione made her way to the Gryffindor common room, everyone erupted in cheers of 'Happy Birthday'. She smiled and laughed in thanks. Most of the people in her year had stayed to give gifts before breakfast. Hermione was shocked at how good it felt to feel appreciated enough by others to have them postpone a journey to the Great Hall.
Neville and Dean gave her some candy from Hogsmeade. Harry gave her a book, Muggle Healing vs. Magical Means, and The Benefits of Both. Hermione was shocked such a book even existed, and thanked him for his thoughtfulness. Ron gave her changing ink that you could charm to change colors in order to take better notes. Neville gave her a book on magical plants that he said was the best field guide he had found. The girls in her dorm had come together for a joint gift of hair products and books on charms for hair and clothes. Hermione thanked everyone as they walked to the Great Hall in a large group to eat breakfast before classes.
When she arrived, Luna walked over and handed her an oddly wrapped present, "Happy Birthday Hermione."
"Thank you Luna!"
Hermione opened the wrapping to find an even odder bracelet. It looked like some type of shells.
"They're Slubby shells. They keep grindylows from attacking you when swimming."
Ron just mouthed what the hell are slubby shells?
"Um, thank you Luna, that is really sweet." Luna smiled before she skipped back to the Ravenclaw table.
Hermione ate and chatted with those sitting around her. Suddenly owls filled the Great Hall as mail arrived. Two packages dropped in front of Hermione. One was from Mrs. Weasley and the other was from her parents.
The one from Mrs. Weasley included a box of home baked sweets. She smiled as she saw her favorite lemon bars included. The gift from her parents included a photo album of her over the years. Some were pictures of her and her parents, while others were of her and Harry and Ron. A few of the pictures were moving, but most were taken with a muggle camera. She smiled as she looked at a few of the pages before placing it in her bag. She would have time later to look at it more. She finished eating quickly before she grabbed her bag and headed to potions class with a smile on her face. This was turning out to be a great birthday.
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Draco Malfoy felt shaky as he rolled out of bed. Blaise shook his head as he looked at him, "You look like shit, mate."
"Thanks for the observation." He said as he started getting ready for the day.
"Maybe you should go see Madam Pomfrey before classes."
