Apples and Snakes

Meeting the Dursleys

It was all work, work, and more work afterwards. It only stopped for me on the day of my birthday. July 30.

I awoke to Ginny and Hermia hovering over me. "Happy Birthday!" They chorused. I sat up, and slid out of bed.

"Thanks," I said, and I quickly changed into a black Lilith Fair t-shirt and jean cutoff shorts, and bounced downstairs, where there were a few presents, and eggs were being cooked in Ms. Weasley's kitchen.

Auntie Tonks and Uncle Remus were the first to greet me in the kitchen, and they hugged me. I'll admit, I was always grateful that I was born one day before Harry, just barely.

"Happy birthday," Uncle Remus whispered in my ear. "You deserve it."

I smiled at him and Auntie Tonks. "Thanks. I'm so happy that you're here."

"Anytime," Auntie Tonks replied, taking my hands into hers.

We sat down for breakfast, and Mum passed me a small box.

"It's from me and Dad," she said, smiling lightly, emerald eyes to ones of jade. I opened the paper with no sympathy for the paper, and revealed a small jewelry box, with a magical watch, as was tradition in the magical world.

It had a brown leather wrist-strap for ordinary days, and a green one for special occasions. The clock itself was golden-colored with a cream face and matching green stars to show the time.

I looked up at her and smiled, and hugged her. "Thanks, Mum."

"You're welcome," she said. "There's a bit more. We've made your own vault, and given you a bit of your inheritance that we promised we'd give you the day you turned seventeen."

"Thanks," I said, honestly touched that they kept their promises after seventeen years.

"You're welcome," Dad answered, coming up behind her and resting a hand on Mum's shoulder.

I placed the watch on, and set on the time. I kept the green strap, since it was a special day indeed, for me anyways.

"This is for you," Harry said, and he handed me a jewelry box as well. What the hell is it with you guys and jewelry? I opened it, and almost dropped it. It was a silver locket that was square-shaped, and could hold three pictures.

I hugged Harry. "Thanks," I said.

There was one that was sent by Hayden and the rest- they'd all chipped in to buy nice art supplies and a new sketchbook. I was sincerely touched by what they'd given me.

I smiled, and looked at all of them. "Thank you, all of you. I'm going to go put these away, and then I'll be right back." I held them close to my chest as I went up to the first landing again, and placed the sketchbook and stuff into my trunk. I then took two slightly yellowed Daily Prophet pictures, and took out a pair of scissors. I cut the fragile pictures, and put them in the wings of the locket, and there was a photo of our family that was already in the locket. I placed it around my neck, and hid it underneath my shirt.

Pictures of two weaknesses of mine, two pieces of my heart. I was afraid of falling in love again. I was ready to admit that. I thought I might be in love with Ky, but I wasn't totally ready to call it on for sure. I didn't want to lose a lover again to Voldemort. I wasn't going to destroy myself with that again. But I couldn't help but care, couldn't help but worry, couldn't help but wonder when he could come back into my life again. I shook off the thoughts, and I went back downstairs, and celebrated my birthday.

The next day, it was all Harry, not that I minded. Until the new Minister of Magic, Scrimegour, came into the picture.

"Dumbledore left something in his will for all four of you," he said.