d o v e

f o u r t e e n

"Happy birthday, Alex!" Hermione cheered the moment Alex opened her eyes. "You've got a package waiting for you downstairs. Ron suspects it's chocolate, so you better hurry before he gets into it."

Alex smiled, laughing as her friend dragged her out of bed and down the stairs where Ron was, in fact, eating her chocolates.

"Happy birthday," he smiled. "There's been a lot of talk going around about love potion being hidden in chocolate, so I thought I'd check them for you."

Alex rolled her eyes, letting her friend enjoy the chocolates.

"You've also got some flowers and bath soap. I reckon this is more of a Valentine's gift rather than a birthday," Ginny explained, handing the flowers to Alexandra.

"I'd be happy with chocolate for any occasion," Ron added, making the girls laugh. "Although the box does say happy birthday. Well, it did before I wiped my fingers on it. Sorry about that."

"Good morning," Harry greeted, making his way downstairs to join the group. "I was going to suggest heading to breakfast, but it seems like you lot are already snacking. That's a rather large box of chocolates."

"It's a delicious one, too," Ron said, tossing another piece of chocolate into his mouth. "That doesn't mean I'm against breakfast."

"I was sort of dragged out of bed, so I would need a minute to change into more appropriate clothes," Alex laughed, quickly heading upstairs so she wouldn't have to keep her friends waiting.

"How could you eat those when you very well know who sent them?" Harry asked, pulling the box away from Ron when Alexandra was out of sight. "After what happened to Katie-"

"Be quiet, will you? She still doesn't know you think Draco was the one who did it," Hermione whispered. Ever since Katie Bell was cursed and Harry overheard Draco's conversation with Snape, Harry has been overly cautious. He knew he couldn't change Alex's mind about Draco, so he refrained from talking about him around her completely.

"I don't understand why she gets so defensive. She has to understand how I feel," Harry defended.

"Maybe if your agenda was to protect your friend rather than prove a point she would take your opinion more seriously," Hermione answered, crossing her arms. She knew Alex is upset with Harry for this specific reason, and she's getting tired of waiting for him to realize what's wrong with his logic.

"You're defending him, Hermione-"

"I'm not defending him, I'm defending her. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to take my friend to her birthday breakfast," Hermione huffed, pointing out that Harry hadn't said anything about it being Alex's birthday.

Hermione began walking up the stairs, stopping halfway when she saw Alexandra standing at the top with a frown plastered on her face.

"I told the boys not to bother coming," Ginny said, joining the girls. "We don't need them."

"Ron can come," Alexandra stated, following her friends down the stairs. "Let's go, then."

"Brilliant," Ron smiled, closing the box of chocolates and bringing it with him. He turned to Harry. "Sorry, mate."

The three girls and Ron enjoyed themselves as they stuffed their faces with French toast and fruit, some more than others. On multiple occasions, Alexandra found herself making eye contact with a certain boy across the dining hall.

"Are you meeting him tonight?" Ginny whispered over to her friend. Alexandra nodded. Both herself and Draco have been rather busy, so they haven't been able to meet since before the holiday. "I find him absolutely vile, but I really think you two need to get on with it."