CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

Saturday 25th April 1998

Rowan's nose tickled. She scrunched it up, feeling consciousness seep through, the darks of her eyelids glowing shades of gold and yellow. A groan slipped past her lips and she was scrunching her eyes shut tighter, desperately trying to chase the last winks of sleep she knew she was still capable of. Something tickled against her nose again.

"Leave me alone," Rowan whined, tucking an arm under her pillow to yank it closer to her face, shoving herself against it, her other arm weakly swatting the air towards the invader. "Go away."

She faintly heard a snicker. Rowan kicked her legs under the duvet, like a five-year-old would stomp their feet after not getting their own way.

"Seriously..." She warned.

The duvet was yanked off of her body. Rowan felt her blood boil, her fists clenching as she whirled around, ready to bite the head off of Pansy Parkinson for trying to wake her up too early yet again—

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

Rowan's heart leapt out of her chest, dark eyes widening, her entire body freezing. She nearly fell off the other side of the mattress, holding a hand over her heart as she glared at the laughing faces of Pansy, Blaise, and Draco. Blaise wore a party hat that Rowan thought she had seen at the last Slytherin party, and his wand had charmed confetti to burst all over her.

Rowan sat atop of her bed, blinking as shades of pink, green, red, yellow, and blue fluttered all around her, landing in her hair, over the sheets and the surrounding floor.

"Are you three serious?" Unimpressed may have been an understatement.

"You're lucky," Draco remarked dryly, "Blaise was going to use a spell that expelled glitter rather than... What would you call this?" He plucked a pink piece from her dark hair and pulled a strange face.

"Confetti." Pansy rolled her eyes. "Do you see who I have had to deal with setting this up?"

Only then did Rowan realise that the dormitory had been decked out in birthday decorations. Banners streamed across the mirrors that read "HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY ROWAN", balloons were tied to her bedposts, streamers covering the windows where the dim Black Lake shone through.

The initial panic she was still hoarding began to wear away and the annoyance of being disturbed from her slumber diminished. Rowan smiled, and nearly laughed when she realised that Daphne, Tracey, and Millicent were nowhere to be seen— Pansy must have paid them to leave early.

"Thank you guys," she said, reaching out and squeezing Pansy's hand. "This is lovely."

"I've never seen somebody switch personalities so quickly," Blaise stated, and then nudged Draco's side. "Just a show of what is to come, mate."

Rowan reached out and kicked him from the comfort of her bed. He groaned and curled his leg up into his chest, smoothing his hands over his trouser-clad knee.

"Fuck, Rowan!" Blaise hissed, "That bloody hurt."

"Don't say nasty things if you don't want nasty reactions."

Draco smirked, sitting down on the bed beside her and pressing a kiss to the side of her head. "Anyway," he dismissed his best friend and girlfriend glaring at one another. "I was hoping that you would like to join me later in Hogsmeade."

Rowan tried to bite back her grin. "Sounds like fun."

Presents were quickly forced into her hands. It was strange having Draco and Blaise sat on the bed with her and Pansy. Usually, their birthdays were an affair between just the two girls. It was nice and tight-knit, just the way they liked it, and yet having the two boys there with them felt so natural and yet so different in a good way.

Blaise had gifted Rowan the nicest Montrose Magpies jumper she had ever seen. It had been knitted, an oversized black and midnight blue stitching that had the team's crest embedded. She was quick to yank it on, the sleeves falling past her hands, and she couldn't help but adore how cosy and warm it was.

"I've never seen this jumper at any of their merchandise stands," Rowan said, "I've actually never seen anybody wearing one like this before, you know."

"That is because it is one of a kind, my lovely, abusive friend," Blaise replied matter-of-factly. "I know a lady in Hogsmeade that takes commissions. The wool that she uses is actually magic. She threads in something— not sure what, actually— and it keeps you the perfect temperature no matter the weather."

Pansy, who was bouncing up and down on the spot waiting for Rowan to peel back the wrapping paper, had to seemingly fight off the urge to rip the present from Rowan and open it up herself. Rowan furrowed her eyebrows when she saw what was sitting in the bottom of the box.

"A key?" She lifted it, inspecting its curved design and the way the maker had bent the metal to form wispy flowers at the end of its long neck. "What is it for, Pansy?"

Pansy was nearly red in the face, as if she would suffocate if she had to keep her mouth shut for one more second. Quickly, everything came spilling out.

"Okay, okay, so you know– alright, you know how my parents have a few houses around Europe and things, well, they— they, okay, so they were—"

"Get to the point, Parkinson—"

"Shut it, Malfoy. They were selling the little villa they have down in Cornwall— you know, the one that we went to for the summer in third year with the—"

Rowan gasped, "With the swimming pool in the backgarden—"

"Yes!" Pansy grinned, and must have been hit with all of the same memories Rowan was having, of spending their entire summer off swimming around and walking around the old Wizarding town hidden behind the busy cobblestone streets of Muggle Cornwall. "They were selling it when I was home at Christmas, and I asked if they would sell it to me— take some of my savings out of the vault and have it for the house— and they agreed to, because it's easier then putting it on the Wizard Housing market— not many people want to buy from former Death Eaters unless they were one themselves, you know—"

"What are you saying!?" Rowan exclaimed, grabbing Pansy's arms, the key in her palm cooling Pansy's warm skin.

"It's ours!" Pansy exclaimed, "It is all ours, Row! That key is to the front door of our own home after Hogwarts. Our own home together!"

Rowan was silent for a few moments. Her heart was pounding against her chest yet again, and she felt like she could both be sick and cry from the overwhelming emotions suddenly coursing through her entire being. Her eyes darted from Pansy to Draco to Blaise and then back to Pansy. As if one of them would suddenly start laughing and go, "look at the look on her face! She wishes!"

And then her second thought is Theodore Nott who had been steering eerily clear of her recently. His blue eyes still followed her whenever they found themselves in the same room, accompanied by dark, furrowed brows and frown lines across his forehead.

Rowan had shaken Theo's hand all those months ago and promised to break Draco's heart because she wanted to escape her father. She had been promised part of Theo's vault, and with that, a home and freedom– financial independence, a chance to start a fresh life.

If Rowan had never shaken Theo's hand under magical oath that day, she was almost certain her life would be perfect by now. She was indescribably in love with her boyfriend, her best friend wanted to move out with her after school, and she had been offered the chance to audition for the most famous Quidditch teams in the world.

Part of her wanted to cry that it was unfair that she was being handed this golden opportunity only now, but the bigger part recognised it for what it was— possibly the best gift anybody had ever given her. It was the chance to never see her father again, and to spend as long as she could with Pansy after school.

"Say something!" Pansy urged.

Rowan began to laugh. "I– I have no idea what to say! I'm— I'm in shock."

"Are you... happy? You're not offended, are you?"

"Why would I be offended?" Rowan scoffed, "I'm really, really grateful. This is amazing, Pans. I mean, for Merlin's sake! I really do never have to see my father again. You've given me the gift of freedom!"

She threw her arms around Pansy and squeezed her best friend tight. As time went on a little, it started to sink in. Pansy laughed and hugged her back.

"I couldn't let you go back there," Pansy said.

Rowan held her tighter.

...

Hogsmeade was bathed in orange light at around half past seven that evening, and Rowan left Hogsmeade Square feeling full from the brasserie restaurant they had just eaten in. Draco's hand held hers tight, his palm squeezing hers as they past all of the shops closing for the evenings. The Hog's Head and The Three Broomsticks were bustling with life already, the noises of rowdy men and laughing women echoing from inside the pubs.

The background noise was peaceful. Birds were louder, squawking and tweeting as they made homes in the hanging plant pots, other people strolling around after a long day of shopping. The bakery still smelt amazing.

Draco stopped at Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour and bought them each a little cup of butterbeer flavoured icecream. She hummed to herself, feeling content, knowing that she had just had the best birthday of her entire life.

"Thank you for such an amazing day," Rowan said as they stopped at a bench, sitting down, shoulders pressed against one another, spooning themselves the icecream.

"It was my pleasure," Draco said.

Rowan's spare hand instinctively moved upwards to touch the necklace hanging around her neck. Draco had put it around her neck when she'd come down to the Great Hall for breakfast that morning. A dainty gold chain encased a beautifully mishapen oval-shaped piece of moonstone. All day she couldn't stop fiddling with it, her thumb and forefinger rubbing the crystal in a way that was comforting.

She finished her icecream and placed it down on the bench next to her. Draco had finished his a few moments ago, now sat back, opting to people-watch as his hand stroked the top of hers absent-mindedly.

"I can't wait for your birthday," Rowan said, "It'll be nice to have the chance to spoil you for once."

"Everybody's going to be thinking about the N.E.W.Ts by the time my birthday rolls around," Draco huffed, "They start only two days later. I think we'll all be revising for the first day of exams."

Rowan felt anxiety pang in her chest. "Hmm. Yeah, I've been putting off revising for that. At first I was blaming being focused on Quidditch, but over the last couple of weeks I've really had no excuse. Just laziness and trying to put off the transition into adulthood."

"Well, you have lots to look forward to," Draco replied, "You're getting your audition for the Magpies or Harpies, and now you're moving out with Parkinson."

Rowan smiled. "Did you know about that, by the way?"

"About her asking you to move out with her? Yes. I– er, I may have expressed to her my concerns over you returning to your father's house when Hogwarts finished at the end of the year. She told me not to bother worrying— that she'd be inviting you to live with her," Draco replied.

"I see," Rowan hummed, "I'm really excited. You'll have to visit every single day."

Her heart panged as soon as she said it. Sometimes she forgot that she may not get to be with Draco soon, and it was always as if her nervous system reminded her before her brain did— that horrible feeling of anxiety, like when you wake up after a really bad day, and for a moment you forget something's wrong, and then consciousness kicks in.

"Well, of course," Draco replied, "Your room will be mine, too."

Rowan forced a smile and leaned her head against his chest so he wouldn't see how forced it appeared. His arm wrapped around her, holding her arm, rubbing up and down. She took a deep breath and exhaled, wishing that she could relive this day over and over again.

"You know, the end of school dance is coming up soon," Draco started, "And I'd love if you would accompany me as my date."

"Hmm..." Rowan pulled back with a thoughtful expression written across her face. "I'll have to think about it."

"Oh, you'll have to think about it, will you?" Draco scoffed and jabbed a finger into her side, watching as she nearly crumpled into herself to get away from him.

"Yes!" Rowan laughed, "I might be busy! I'll have to check my calender–"

She was cut off by hands on her face, pulling her closer, and lips on top of hers. Rowan melted into him, kissing back gently, sighing when he pulled away. Draco stayed close, silver eyes amused.

"I checked my calender," Rowan said, "It turns out I do have that evening available."

Before he could kiss her again, the sound of Rowan's name being slurred across the square made her jump. Both teenagers parted, heads snapping to the direction of The Hog's Head where a familiar man was stumbling out, looking drunker than a sailor, nearly tripping over his own feet.

"Oh fucking hell," Draco muttered, rolling his eyes. "Come on."

He stood up, holding his hand out. For a moment, Rowan felt like a she'd been Stunned, her body stuck to the bench beneath her as she watched her father get closer and closer. She grabbed his hand and he pulled her to her feet.

"Don't come any closer," Draco warned, furious, and the hand that wasn't on Rowan had drawn out his wand— pointing it directly at the older man. "Seriously, piss off, Yaxley—before I hex you."

Mr Yaxley scoffed as if waving Draco off. "I am allowed to roam where I please. You do not own Hogsmeade, Draco. Besides, I am here to speak to my daughter."

"She doesn't—"

"I have nothing to say to you," Rowan said forcefully, her voice did not waver but the grip on Draco's hand was almost like a vice. "I want you to leave me alone. I'm eighteen— you're not responsible for me in the slightest anymore."

"That's right, that's right. You're eighteen. Today. Oh, how the time has—"

"What do you want?" Draco snapped, "Or are you just here to bring offence to my sense of smell?"

Mr Yaxley did reek of Firewhisky. His eyes were bloodshot too, his hair messier than usual. He looked older, despite the fact that Rowan had seen him in December. It had only been about four months.

"I just wanted to say happy birthday," Mr Yaxley said, "And I wanted to talk about your accomodation after school."

"Funnily enough, I have that sorted out," Rowan said, "Don't worry, you won't be seeing me ever again. I am moving out after Hogwarts."

"Mo– Moving out? With who? With the Malfoys?"

"Yes," Draco said firmly before Rowan could get a word in. "She will be living with my parents and I. And just to prewarn you, Yaxley, my father would not appreciate you turning up on our doorstep at any point in the future. In fact, I think you are banned from any future events we host due to your crude and vile behaviour at our New Years party—"

Mr Yaxley moved closer, so Draco jabbed his wand into the man's chest. "Crude and vile behaviour? You must be having a laugh, I did nothing that warranted the humiliation of being kicked from the party. I am a Pureblood– a member of the Sacred Twenty-Eight— I have a rightful place at Pureblood social events. I aided the first war in favour of—"

"Nobody gives a shit," Rowan snapped, "Even other Purebloods are disgusted by you, father. You know, when they say to keep our bloodlines pure, they definitely don't mean by keeping it in the family."

Mr Yaxley looked whiter in the face, swallowing thickly as he glanced between Rowan and Draco. "I don't— I have never touched you, I have never—"

"Because I didn't give you the fucking chance," Draco hissed, moving closer, his face red, his nose scrunched and his silver eyes growing grey. "That's why you were banned from the event— you are a sick fuck, Yax–"

Draco was cut off by Mr Yaxley's fist swinging, smacking him straight in the jaw. Rowan cried out as Draco's head swerved in the other direction, so quickly Rowan heard clicks and cracks. She yanked her wand out of her bag just as Draco grabbed the man by the throat and threw him against the brick wall beside the bench they'd been sat on. Mr Yaxley choked and spluttered, his face going red as his eyes bulged.

Rowan moved beside Draco, her wand in her father's face.

"Should we torture him, Rowan? Make him feel as shit as you did when you realised you had the world's worst excuse of a father?" Draco spat, "Or should I beat his face in until he's fucking unrecognisable?"

Rowan's lip quivered in disgust as she looked at her father. "I want to do it. I'll show him how this feels."

Draco moved slightly so Rowan could face her father head on, his arm still against Yaxley's neck, keeping in place. Rowan's head wracked all of the spells she had been taught at Hogwarts. She thought of all of the curses she'd seen her fellow Slytherins do on their friends for pranks. She imagined what the dark curses she had read about in some of the books from the Restricted Section might look like performed on a person.

He deserved to hurt like he had hurt her. He deserved to know what if felt like to feel sick to your stomach, to feel like you can't escape the feeling of dread in your body, to know what it feels like to want to claw your skin off or scrub it until it is raw because your own flesh and blood likes it too much.

"Movenspellis," Rowan hissed.

Draco pulled his arm away, the pair taking a step backwards when they saw Mr Yaxley's skin start to move as if there were thousands of tiny bugs beneath it. He began to cry out, touching his face, his arms, his neck, desperately scratching, panicking.

"Petrificus Totalus," Draco cast.

Mr Yaxley's body crumbled beneath the bench, straight as a board, unable to move an inch, though his eyes were wide and darting around and his skin was still crawling. Rowan felt a sick sense of power rush through her as she grabbed Draco's hand and glanced around the square, checking nobody had seen them.

"Come on," Draco said, and tugged her away.

Rowan couldn't help but smile slightly, the pair running as fast as they could until they were on the long, winding trail back to Hogwarts. They stopped when they were out of the way of all of the shops and buildings, laughing as they panted and tried to catch their breaths.

"What spell was that?" Draco asked, "I've never seen that before!"

Rowan smiled. "I thought it'd be fitting if he knew what it felt like for your skin to just... crawl. It's the Frenzied Flesh curse, I saw it in one of those dark spell books Goyle always has lying about. I think it just horrified me so much I must have remembered it."

"Well, it was fully fucking deserved," Draco said, and then furrowed his brows, cupping her face. "Are you okay? I'm sorry that bastard had to come out and ruin your birthday, I should have—"

"Shut up," Rowan huffed, "He didn't ruin it. Cursing him might have been one of the best presents I have ever gotten, so thank you for that. Besides, I should be asking you if you're alright. He managed to punch you pretty well."

Draco reached to touch the tender skin along his jaw. "It's okay. Not too bad."

Rowan turned his face to look at it herself. "Are you sure?"

"It does sting a bit," Draco admitted, watching Rowan's face fall. "Maybe you could kiss it better?"

She barked a laugh and gently hit his chest. Then, she grabbed the back of his head with her hand and lowered him, pressing her lips very very gently against the irritated skin. She felt him smile faintly against her as she pulled away from him.

"There," she murmured, and kept her arm around the back of his neck, her dark eyes melting into his silver ones. "Better?"

"Better." And then he kissed her hard. 

...

sorry that this isn't proofread and that it took a while to come out! i was editing training wheels for a bit because i had some writers block with this fic. it's coming to an end in the next few chapters though, and i'm really excited for you guys to see what i have in store!!!

also, i am thinking about getting a new draco fic ready for when this one ends so i have something to do because i love writing for draco. 

in all honesty, this fic isn't my favourite i've ever done but i'm trying to finish it because i wouldn't want to leave anyone hanging!! i loved training wheels and it's something i am still proud of to this day, so i'm hoping to do something like that for my next fic? i was thinking of maybe using amora, leon, and kathy as characters again, but i don't know if that would be weird--- they're just my babies and i miss writing them so much. i'd love to just write another draco/amora fic as if they're soulmates in every universe if that makes sense lol. anwyays, im rambling. thanks for reading!!!