SIXTEEN

MARINA DOBBS WOKE UP ON HER SEVENTEENTH birthday, more excited than any other birthday she'd had... because she got to spend the day at Hogsmeade with her best friends. She didn't have to spend her birthday in a stupid uniform for once. The girl was thrilled to finally be able to dress up, she went with a silky pink dress, layered under a white long sleeve (hoping it would fit the problematic March weather). It didn't take her long to get ready, so she quickly left the dormitory. She heard the sound of Rory playing the piano in the common room as she approached the bottom of the wooden steps. It was a familiar tune, a muggle song, one she would hear her dad listen to. Although both her parents were magic, her dad came from a muggle family which meant she was able to relate to Rory on several fronts.

"Marina!" Rory exclaimed, nearly falling off the piano bench, "It's your birthday!"

"It is! Don't stop playing though —" Marina was suddenly met with a mouthful of Rory's hair as the enthusiastic girl engulfed her in a hug. "I like that song!"

Rory chuckled and pulled away, "You like Billy Joel?"

Marina shrugged, "I mean... my dad does."

Rory smiled and sat back down on the bench, "Mine did too. I don't remember much about him, but I know he'd always sing Vienna to me. Any requests for the birthday girl, though? I can play you that one part in Dancing Queen where it goes 'da da, da da, da da'."

"Do you even know that many songs?" The girl joked, taking a seat next to her.

Rory shook her head and lightly played a scale, slightly reaching past Marina as she touched the higher keys, "I can try though. C'mon... your favorite song? Even if I can't play it, I'd love to know what it is. Mine is probably... Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da! From The Beatles... it's bound to change tomorrow though, it always does."

"Alright, don't make fun. It's Songbird, Fleetwood Mac. It reminds me of you and Fred, and George, and Angelina, Lee... and I wish you all the love in the world."

"I definitely can't play that... but now I want to cry because that's the sweetest thing I've ever heard! I can play you a song from the Les Mis book Fred got me!" The girl opened the book propped up on the piano and began playing a tune Marina had heard before, but wasn't completely familiar with. However, it made her happy to see Rory in her element. Marina smiled and placed her head on Rory's shoulder as the girl touched each key with such caution. She could hear Rory humming along to the tune she was playing. It was a lovely thing to hear. A lovely thing to be with friends.

"Oh no! She's slamming again!" A voice groaned. The girls looked up to see Fred enter the dormitory, with George and Lee not too far behind them.

Rory literally slammed on the keys with frustration and snapped, "I am not slamming!"

Fred chuckled and rolled his eyes, "Oh, happy birthday, Mar!"

"Yeah, happy birthday! Seventeen looks good on you." George winked.

Marina blushed from slight embarrassment. She had a love-hate relationship with the way her friends would jokingly flirt with her. That's just how they were though. She wasn't the only victim. Rory and Angelina had to deal with it too. Except for Rory, Fred's flirting wasn't a joke. His crush on her was extremely obvious, a bit annoying to Marina just how up front he was about it. The girl was a bit worried a relationship between them would ruin the good chemistry they all had as friends. She didn't want any of her friends to start dating. Marina was well aware of what happened between Rory and Fred at the Yule Ball. No one else was, except for George probably. Ever since then Fred had been flirting twice as much. However, Rory was completely oblivious. So as long as it stayed that way, Marina was fine.

"Thanks, guys!" She answered, ignoring her thoughts, "You ready for Hogsmeade?"

"Born ready," Lee said, "Anyone seen Angelina?"

Rory shrugged, "Morning Prefect rounds. She'll be back soon."

"How does it feel to be legal?" Fred asked, placing a hand on her shoulder and squeezing into the bench, nearly pushing Rory off.

"Well... haven't been able to really do anything... although I suppose I have to sign up for Apparation lessons now. We can all get our licenses in April. I've just been holding it off." The girl said nervously with a shudder. The thought of Apparating terrified her.

"They're not that bad!" Rory said, "I was super nervous my first time but it gets easier!"

Fred chuckled, "Rory, love, you threw up your first time." Love.

"Whatever," Rory rolled her eyes, "Angelina should be done any second now. We'll probably catch her on her way back."

The group nodded in agreement and began heading out of the common room. The hallways were filled with students bustling about to take a break from the stress of school and journey to Hogsmeade.

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"FRED WEASLEY GET THAT AWAY from me!" Rory giggled in the middle of Zonko's Joke Shop, as Fred began chasing her around with a small fake creature of sorts. She didn't know what it was, but she sure hated how it felt as he ticked her neck with it.

Their day at Hogsmeade was nearly over, all they needed was a visit to The Three Broomsticks. Rory was especially excited because she heard such great things about Madam Rosmerta's birthday desserts and how they shot fireworks out of the tops. The group decided to treat Marina and pay for her meal and whatever she wanted from any shop. The girl decided on a new quill with a beautiful purple feather and matching ink from Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop since she went through them quite quickly given she was always writing. Rory then came up with the idea for a quill that has auto filling ink, and the twins mentally jotted it down as a product for their shop.

After buying nothing in Zonko's, the group decided their hunger was a top priority and made their way to The Three Broomsticks. Rory passed by Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop and saw a certain Hufflepuff with a certain Ravenclaw in the window. She smiled, as it seemed to be going well, and made a mental note to ask Cedric all about their date later.

When they reached the pub, Fred dramatically opened the door and extended an arm, "Birthday ladies first."

Marina laughed and shook her head, entering the pub, "Thanks, Fred."

Angelina tried to follow but Fred jumped in front of her and walked behind Marina into the building.

"Fred Weasley!" Angelina snapped, opening the door for herself.

Rory giggled and joined them inside. They got a table and ordered butterbeers to start.

"Oh!" Rory remembered, "I totally forgot to get Aaron something from Honeydukes! I'll be right back, order me my usual?" George nodded, taking the responsibility to make sure Rory would get her order in. The girl grabbed her jacket and quickly walked out of the pub.

Rory decided a bit ago she wanted to patch things up with Aaron. Although he was rude and annoying, he was her family. Naturally she resorted to buying his love with sweets... it was working, though! He was saying hello to her in the hallways and chatting with her when she came to the Hufflepuff common room. Baby steps. She just hoped he would still be so kind to her in front of their mother over the summer.

Honeydukes was not as busy as it had been when Rory first arrived at Hogsmeade. Many students had either left the village all together or were doing last minute shopping elsewhere.

Rory got a few chocolate frogs, since Aaron liked to collect the cards. She got in line behind a Beauxbatons girl and stood there for a moment. The student turned around and Rory saw it was none other than one Fleur Delacour.

"Oh, 'ello!" The blonde girl smiled, "It is Rory is it? Friend of Cedric's?"

Rory smiled and nodded, "That's me!"

"You like chocolate frogs?" Fleur said, pointing to Rory's hands which held about five of the candy amphibians.

"They're for my younger brother. Although, I do like chocolate frogs." She shrugged.

Fleur beamed, "How kind of you to do 'zat for him! I know what it's like, being 'ze oldest sister. Let me pay for you, please. It would be 'ze greatest honor. Cedric is very kind to me, any friend of his is a friend of mine."

"Oh! What? No you don't have to — " Rory tried to reject the girl's offer, but Fleur took the candy from her hands, placed them on the counter, and paid for them. "You really didn't have to do that, how can I — "

Fleur shook her head and handed Rory the small bag full of her purchase, "It is my pleasure. Don't worry about it. I 'ope your brother likes 'ze chocolate! I will see you around, Rory! À plus tard!" The girl then walked off, the fabric of her dress flowing behind her with grace.

Rory, still shocked by the interaction, walked back to The Three Broomsticks slowly. She reentered the pub and joined her friends, their food still hadn't come out yet.

"You alright, Rory? Look like you've seen a ghost?" Lee joked.

"Fleur Delacour just paid for my candy!" She said.

Fred, mid sip, snorted out a chuckle, "Excuse me?"

Rory shrugged, "I was behind her in line at Honeydukes... and she just bought my chocolate frogs for me! Out of the kindness of her heart, I guess!"

"That's so sweet!" Marina smiled, "Oh to be as beautiful and kind as her. She was chosen as the Beauxbatons champion for a good reason."

"You are, Marina!" Rory sighed. "Did everyone order?"

They nodded.

"Good, I'm starving."