While it wasn't easy to sneak everyone into the Gryffindor green house, the trio managed to pull it off. They invited Salem's list of people that consisted of the twins, Luna, Ginny, Neville, and Blaise. It was sneaky, something they'd sure get in trouble for considering it was after hours to avoided people crashing that weren't invited. But Salem was happy, she was beyond happy, she for once didn't hate her birthday.

"Close your eyes." Hermione laughed as the trio huddled together, hiding whatever they had from Salem.

"I don't like surprises, move." she laughed while trying to push through them, Fred hurried forward to pull her back and put his hands over her eyes. Within the next few seconds there was movement behind her blinded figure, the trio arguing who got to hold it and who would take credit for it. Out of annoyance Fred let Salem's eyes go, bearing the present in her face as she gasped.

"Callon!" she squealed as she saw the small house elf before her.

"Happy birthday, Ms.Salem." he spoke with a odd voice, squeaking yet raspy. Salem took him from their arms in a tight hug, the group all gushing at the sight.

"Where did you guys find him?" Salem asked as she pulled Hermione into a hug first, and not bothering to let go.

"Dumbledore helped, Blaise gave us the idea." Hermione laughed as Salem waved the darker boy over to hug him quickly. She passed Callon to Hermione for a moment as she hugged Ron, kissing his forehead before doing the same to Harry and finally Hermione once again.

Hermione was going on and on about what happened in classes today, laughing with Salem by the small candle as Luna and Ginny sat near by. The twins made fun of Ron as Harry stood by, observing as he liked to call it. And then there was Neville who made his way to the girls and then to the boys and then to the homemade cake, and anywhere his feet seemed to take him. Which in this case was toward the perfectly wrapped present laying on the floor of the opening of the green house.

The wrapping looked like a professional did it, no bumps or tape rips to be seen. It was square, tapped from the inside out to hid the clear stick that was keeping the wrapping together. Two green apple was placed on top, freshly picked ones that clearly had some sort of spell on it from the way it sparkles and shined. Neville forgot for a second that it was Salem's birthday, about to open to present before he heard her laugh and turned.

"You have a present." he side while making quick strides toward her as Salem looked away from Hermione.

"You already gave me that nice quil, Neville." Salem said with a small laugh as she took the present, carful fo grab the apples on top, handing one to Callon next to her.

"Not from me, was waiting over there." the taller boy spoke as he pointed toward the opening of the green house that was covered in plants. Salem stood quickly, giving her friends a smile as she hurried to look outside of the green house. She could see the bright, blonde hair walking away.

"Hey!" she called out, holding the wrapped square and apple in her hand. Draco turned from down the path, to far to see her properly but making out her voice and figure. Salem motioned for him to come back, hesitating he did anyways, taking large strides to hurry down so wouldn't be so awkward.

"What is it you want now?" he asked while straightening his posture, standing before her and tilting his head down in just the slightest.

"Usually when you give people gifts you do it to their face." Salem said with a joking grin, knowing the last thing he'd do is give her something infront of everyone.

"Do you like it?" he asked as Salem held the green apple in her hand and nodded.

"Oh yeah, it's truly shiny, like a wedding ring the groom gives his maid after finding out his fiancé had been snogging on the pool boy." Salem said with fake gag at the end as she spoke making Draco frown his eyebrows.

"Not the apple, bloody moron." he said while bumping his knuckles with the bottom of the present, getting Salem's attention.

"Oh! Right, here." she said while pushing the apple into his arms and yanking the thick paper back, struggling in the slightest as he watched her comically.

"Your mom wrap this?" she asked as he ignored her, crossing his arms with a faint amusing smirk on his face before she finally tore it open. Dropped the expensive wrapping Salem griped the plain black journal in her hands, turning it over and finding the backside black as well.

"Do you like it?" he repeated himself as Salem's dark eyes snapped up to meet his gaze before looking down at the book again.

"I do like it, very much." she said with a grin, not knowing what exactly it was for but finding the thought of him actually getting her something heartwarming.

"You are not looking at it right." he said while giving her the apple and taking the journal, flipping the first page open before switching with her again.

Line after line was written with spells, spells that had the pronunciation in parentheses next to it. Each line was skipped to prevent Salem from getting confused and running them together, written in ways he knew she'd understand and be able to pronouns. Dracos hand writing was neat and clearly worked on, dried perfectly before turning the page. Her name was written at the top, his signed at the bottom with no explanation.

"So you can understand the spells and potions better." the slightly taller boy said as he pointed to the words making Salem look up at him and smile widely. The look in her eye made him realize he'd showed her to much kindness as he quickly added in, "The rest of the pages are blank for whenever you can finally write down your own spells and not be so bloody stupid."

"Thank you." Salem said as she smiled, her eyes light up from the usual pitch black to a nice chocolate color for just a moment. With a clear of his throat, Draco gave her a nod and turned on his heels to walk off quickly.

"Do you wanna come in for a little?" she called out as he paused again, not bothering to turn and just look at her over his shoulder, "Blaise is here."

"No." she stated with a offended look.

"It's almost over, ten minutes at the most." Salem said as he tilted his head slightly and turned to her, staying in place, "Besides... do you wanna show Potter that you have a better gift then he does?"

"Potter." Draco stated with a disgusted look on his face.

"Yes! Pottah, perfect plan." she said, mocking the way he said it as he gave her a offended look but walked into the green house, pushing a few plants away, with her anyways.

"Salem, we-" Hermione began, stopping in her sentence as everyone saw Draco standing close behind Salem as he looked around.

"Malfoy, what do you want?" Harry asked as he stood from his chair.

"I invited him." Salem said quickly to cut the tension, watching everyone look at her confused, "It's my birthday, isn't it?"

"Get the lights!" Fred yelled as Luna quickly blew out the candle as it fell completely dark before a bright light appeared around the corner.

"Happy birthday to you." George began to sing, walking in carefully with the three layer cake in his hand, the candles looking like firework sparklers, "Happy birthday to you."

"Happy birthday to Salem, happy birthday to you." Everyone joined in singing as everyone circled close to her as the cake was infront of her smiling and blushing face.

"Make a wish." Ginny whispered to her as she nudged her shoulder a little to hard. Salem closed her eyes for a second, everyone wondering what she wished for, some wondering a little to hard, and she attempted to blow them out but the sparklers where to large.

"How do I-" Salem began before the sparkles exploded slightly making everyone let out a yell as pieces of cake flew all over them. The laughter went around the room quickly as the lights came back on, Salem's contagious laughter echoing the most as she whipped the icing off her nose... unaware that she grabbed Draco Malfoys hand when she got scared.

"Sweet dreams, Ms.Salem. What else can Callon help you with for bedtime?" Callon asked as he tucked Salem into the bed in her grandfathers private apartment like room who managed to convince her to stay for the night after they celebrated like they usually did.

"I'm okay, thank you Callon, see you in the morning." Salem said, smiling at the house elf as he gave her pointer finger a small squeeze before exiting the room. Salem put her new book of spells on the night side table, beyond excited for the holidays to be over so she could finally pass her exams. Salem fluttered her eyes shut, the moonlight illuminating the room just enough for her to fall asleep happy with the day that passed.

The owl noises were heard before she fell asleep.

There was a beautiful owl, one she'd never seen before, right outside her window. It was larger then any other she'd ever seen, a rolled piece of paper held by its feet. Hurrying to get out of bed Salem opened her window, taking the note before giving the owl a treat and sending it off.

The paper was beautiful, perfectly folded over with the red stamp in the middle. Salem softly broke it, almost scared she'd rip something so gorgeous and well put together if she tried hard enough. Flipping the lamp next to her she crossed her legs over the other.

Salem Slughorn,

We have been notified that it is your sixteenth birthdays today, we wish you the best. Any daughter of Emilia is a daughter of ours, we would like to invite you to a small christmas eve dinner. We knew your mother very personally and are here to answer any questions you may want to know along with things you must know for your future. See you very soon, dear.

-Narcissa Malfoy.

•

kylie speaks.

so it's
begins.