Golden (FRED WEASLEY)

Chapter 11:

      At last, dinner comes to an end. I'm still wearing the same outfit from before as I walk down the hallway towards the gryffindor common room.

       I pull my bag up a bit further on my shoulder, it's contents weighing it down. Inside I have my cassette player, which is the main source of weight.

      I arrive at the fat lady painting, and recite the password, corn on the cob. It's always quite strange for some reason. And hard to remember as it is forever changing. Luckily the hufflepuff room is unlocked just by tapping barrels in a pattern.

      The portrait swings open, and I step inside. I look up from my feet and gasp at the sight.

      The room is fully decked out in birthday decorations. There are endless banners covering the walls, even one drawing my attention above the hearth that reads happy sweet sixteen!

      I've always dreamed of my sweet sixteen, years before I knew I was a witch. I talked about it non-stop growing up, and until just now I had forgotten that I am now officially sixteen.

      "Surprise!" Everyone inside yells, and I look away from the decorations towards the people.

      The room is filled with students, most I recognize but some I don't. Jocelyn and Maya stand by the door, and come running to hug me.

      "Happy birthday!" They both screech in unison, as they pull away from the hug.

      "You didn't think we had forgotten?" Maya laughs, pulling away.

       "Kind of," I blurt, causing them to laugh harder.

      "We would never," George says, appearing behind them as he wraps me into a giant bear hug.

      He kisses the top of my head, and pats my back before letting me go. And last but not least, Fred runs up, and picks me up off the ground.

       "Happy birthday Sofia!" He yells, shaking me around as my feet dangle in the air.

      "Thank you guys for this," I say, as Fred puts me back on the ground.

       "Anytime. Also, I dig the fit. It's sick," Fred comments, and I remember the outfit I'm wearing. It's not a normal style for me, and it feels weird to be doing something so far outside of my comfort zone.

       "Thanks, Ca-" I start, before remembering that our friendship is secret, "-a friend picked it out for me."

"Wicked," George laughs, and the others chat while I admire the room once again.

The smile sticks to my lips as I look around the room. Everyone seems so happy. Some people are dancing, some people are talking, and some are even snogging.

I'm broken out of my trance by Fred grabbing my hand and spinning me to the middle as he starts to do the tango. "I love this song," he exclaims, dipping me.

I laugh, as he continues to dance me around the room. After a couple minutes of dancing, Maya swoops in a takes over, and this time we're dancing some made-up jumpy style. I like this one a lot.

I spin Maya towards me, and then away from me and as she lets go of my hand George takes her place and starts dancing a waltzy style. I laugh the whole time as he dramatically dances with me around the room.

And finally, Jocelyn comes in and does ballroom dancing. We both laugh throughout the dance, and as the song ends she whispers, "Happy Birthday Sofia. You know we could never forget about you," I wrap my arms around her in a hug.