In the Melancholy Moonlight

Chapter XXXIII: I'll Go First

LUCY:

I checked my watch. It was almost five in the morning, meaning Malachi would fly up to the window with my birthday gift any moment.

Between the strict limits on where students could go in the castle and my desire not to make a big deal out of my birthday, Cedric said he'd send Malachi at five with my gift so no one would see. I tried to tell him it was okay and that I didn't need anything for my birthday, especially not this year, but he said he at least wanted me to have whatever it was he had found. He seemed very proud of it, and I didn't have the heart to argue further, so there I found myself in my pajamas in the common room with my nose buried in my charms book. Final exams were approaching, and studying was a good way to distract myself from Hermione's absence when Ron and Harry weren't around to distract me in other ways.

True to his word, Malachi arrived at five o'clock exactly with a small box in his clutches. I let him in and curled up in an armchair, and he perched himself on the back of the chair as I read the note at the top of the box.

Dear Lu,

Happy birthday! I'm so sorry that your birthday looks so different this year. We'll have a proper celebration over summer, but in the meantime, this is for you. Go ahead and take it out, then read the rest of this for the explanation.

I smiled to myself. My brother had obviously put a lot of thought into this.

I pulled out a white long-sleeved shirt that sparkled slightly in the dim light from the fireplace. It was cool to the touch; I hadn't realized how hot I was in my thick flannel pajamas until I realized how good the shirt felt even just in my hand.

I know what you're probably thinking. A shirt? Really, Cedric? Well, it's not just any shirt. Remember the sweater Henry gave me for Christmas? This shirt is just like that. Henry taught me the charms; they were surprisingly tricky! It can go under your robes whenever you need it, so you don't have to worry about ever being too hot or too cold around that time of the month.

Happy birthday, Lucy. I hope you still have a good day today.

I love you so much, Lu. I can't believe you're already 13. Oh, and look in the box one more time. I believe I found an extraordinarily rare Chocolate Frog card you probably don't have yet.

Love, Cedric

I folded the letter and studied the shirt more closely before checking the box. I pressed it to my cheek, and a small sigh of relief escaped my lips. It was nice and cool. I returned it to the box and dug around the bottom for the card.

Once I found it, I flipped it over to see the picture before reading the words, and I blinked in surprise when it was my own face smiling at me. I couldn't have been more than six years old at the time, because I was missing both front teeth and my sweaty bangs were plastered to my forehead. I was laughing at whoever was behind the camera, my braids swinging with each giggle, and I figured it was safe to assume it was my brother. I flipped the card over to read the description.

"Lucy Diggory," it read, "was born May 23, 1980. Lucy is Cedric Diggory's favorite sister and Susan and Amos Diggory's favorite daughter. She plays as a Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and has loved to fly since the day she was born. Her other talents include being remarkably brave and resilient in the midst of hardship and kind to everyone she meets. Her adventures are far from over --- in fact, they have only just begun --- but this witch will surely go far in life, because she has no shortage of heart and nerve."

My face burned, but I smiled from ear to ear. I flipped the card back over and watched the picture again.

"Is that you?"