Worth the Risk
A Remus Lupin Fan Fiction.
Chapter 3: Happy Birthday, Love: Part 2
Peter saw her approach first. It wasn't unusual for Ella to visit her twin friends, but the four boys were always too wrapped up in their own business to notice. The tiny boy tapped one of his friends-- Remus, it happened to be-- and nodded his head in the direction of her approaching figure. The other two had noticed by then; the bow she wore in her red hair was certainly attention-grabbing.
“D'you figure it's her birthday?” asked Pettigrew.
“No, Peter, she's wearing that bow to celebrate the weekend,” James replied sarcastically.
The boy shook his head, glancing at the now-sixteen-year-old. “I wouldn't doubt it.”
With their backs to her, Bryce and Detta didn't see her approach. She stood behind them, smiling. Hands behind her back, Ella rocked back and forth on her heels, as if waiting patiently for her friends to turn around.
Lily spoke first. Knowing Ella from their prefect status, she grinned kindly. “Happy birthday, Ella,” Lily said pointedly, turning her gaze to the twins, who turned around at last.
Bryce jumped when he turned around to her close proximity. “Don't stand so close to me, Ella. You know I'm easily startled!” Detta was already laughing.
Ella laughed too, taking a step back. It was a light, airy sound; carefree and girlish, but far from vapid. It added to her childlike innocence, her vulnerability, and it made Lupin realize how easily he could harm her-- or worse.
“If by 'startled' you mean 'scared-to-the-point-of-wetting-yourself'? Yeah, I know,” she said, earning a laugh from the nearby members of the Gryffindor table. Bryce wasn't embarrassed (he rarely was), so he just gave his friend a playful shove before gathering her into a hug.
“Happy birthday, prat,” he said loudly, releasing Ella and earning a fake glare. The birthday girl moved on to the other twin, who hugged her just a bit too tightly.
When Ella finally stood, a couple more Gryffindors wished her a happy birthday, including a friendly James and an obnoxious Sirius. “Happy birthday, love!” he near-shouted, earning a light kick from Remus under the table. Peter remained silent.
“Happy birthday,” Lupin murmured politely, nodding. He thought he saw her blush, but when he glanced back again, she had looked away.
Black glared at his friend for the abuse. “What, I can't wish the girl a happy birthday?” Sirius said loudly. Luckily for Lupin, no one else heard besides the four boys.
“Just don't be so loud,” said Remus, stifling a yawn. “Couldn't sleep last night, alright?”
“What, were you up reading again?” James chuckled.
"You know perfectly well why," he retorted, saying nothing more. The boy rolled his eyes before turning them again to the Hufflepuff.
Bernadette had pulled out a small parcel from her robes, wrapped in yellow paper that matched her bow and her tie. Ella murmured a thank you before tearing open the paper messily, discarding the wrapper in a protesting Bryce's lap. It was a small white box, about the size of her palm. Upon opening it, she found a simple silver chain, made to fit around her wrist.
Struggling with the clasp, Ella thanked her friend once again. “Thank you, Detta! It's lovely.”
“That's not all,” Bryce sang as his sister helped Ella with the bracelet. From his robes, he pulled out a small white gift bag, in which purple tissue paper protruded from the top.
Inside were four small charms: a music note, a flower, a theatre mask, and an open book. “It's a charm bracelet,” Bryce stated the obvious, now helping an awed Ella clip on the additions. “That way, we'll always know what to get you if we can't think of anything else.”
“Gee, guys, I'm touched,” Ella deadpanned, her smile betraying her voice. “Thanks again, you two. It's perfect.”
By this time, most of the nearby Gryffindors had gone back to their meals. Remus and Peter, however, still eavesdropped.
“Speaking of perfect gifts, love,” Detta segued. “What else did you get?”
“My mother got me this lovely potted flower, and Drew gave me more school supplies.”
Bryce scoffed. “I'm not surprised,” he said, grinning. “What was it this time?”
“Quills,” answered Ella. “They were quite lovely, actually.”
Ella's brother, Drew, was twenty three now. Ella's parents had been fortunate enough to have two magical children, so when Ella came along, they weren't surprised when she had gotten her letter. He had attended the Salem Institute of Magic in the United States, but if he had attended Hogwarts, Drew definitely would have been a Ravenclaw. Ella's brow furrowed as she realized how much she missed her big brother, and made a note to write him as soon as possible.
She shook her head. “Anyway, that's far from the best part. Wait until you see what my father got me.”
The three made plans to meet in front of the lake after breakfast, where Ella would show them her new gift. She had picked the spot, partly because it was another day without rain and she wanted to be outside (Admittedly, Ella would have been perfectly content with going outside in a downpour). The other reason was because she figured Remus would be there.
IFancyMyselfANoviceWriter