(Untitled)

[lilium_evansiae]

"But it's not my birthday yet," Lily objects, when Bar presents her with a small cake with improbably red icing and several tall gold candles, which blaze more like sparklers than candles. "Not till the end of the month

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[alsoagreengrass]

"Right, so."

Scorpius, who is dressed for bed in his footie pajamas and Montrose Magpies hoodie, leans against the counter, eying the cake dubiously after overhearing her (one-sided) conversation.

"I'm confused by all of this unbirthday, uhm - birthdayness. But happy unbirthday birthday all the same? And should I wish you a happy birthday too? For the regular one, I mean."

[lilium_evansiae]

"To be honest, I'm a bit confused by it myself. It appears, though, that it's my birthday here, even though it's still about two weeks away at home.

"But the cake is very pretty.

"So as for any appropriate wishes or salutations ... I'd say that's completely up to you.

"Hello, Scorpius."

[alsoagreengrass]

"That actually, uhm - I understand completely. I don't know if that means I've spent far too much time at Milliways or not, but - Happy Birthday!"

Birthday wishes of which are said quite enthusiastically and with a soft cheer.

"And a hullo to you too."

[lilium_evansiae]

"Thank you.

"Can I offer you some cake?

"And how are things for you?"

[alsoagreengrass]

"Fairly good? I've finished packing for Hogwarts anyway and I'm glad that's done with."

Packing can be such a hassle when the time could have been better spent by working on a broom or snogging a boyfriend.

"How're you? Looking forward to your, uhm - birthday-birthday? You'll be of age, won't you?

"And, oh, uhm - Thanks, but I think I'll pass on the cake."

[lilium_evansiae]

"So it's late August for you, then, yeah?"

Time here gives her just the slightest bit of a headache.

She nods. "Seventeen, yeah.

"Between you and me, it's just the slightest bit intimidating. But other than that, yeah, looking forward to it."

First birthday with James and all, if for no other reason.

"Though we are playing Slytherin the day before. Which is either going to put everyone in a really good mood for my birthday or an incredibly bad one."

Especially James.

[alsoagreengrass]

"Very end of August, actually," he says with a bit of a sigh. He's still clinging to the summer, no matter how much he's talked himself into enjoying the final year at Hogwarts.

"Quidditch matches do have a way of, uhm - Deciding the mood at Hogwarts. No one enjoys it when their House loses. Except for maybe Hufflepuffs? I don't know about them. What are Gryffindor's chances?"

[lilium_evansiae]

"Honestly," Lily says, "Slytherin are not a bad team. I'm in Gryffindor, I don't think I'm actually allowed to use the word 'good' for anything with regard to Slytherin without risking my right to know our common room password, but read between the lines there, yeah?

"That said, Gryffindor's very good this year. And we lost to them last year, with most of the same players on both teams, in a very nasty match, so our team is out to settle that score. Not that the Slytherin team don't want to win, I just think we probably want it more.

"So, bearing in mind my completely unbiased position as the Gryffindor team captain's girlfriend, and based on the one match I've seen each team play so far this year ... we'll win. But they'll put up a fight.

"On and off the pitch, if previous years are anything to go by."

[alsoagreengrass]

Scorpius nods in understanding.

"There's still a bit of a rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin, but probably much tamer, I think. Good luck to your Gryffindor all the same. I think I can say that in good sportsmanship. And assuming my family have already moved on from Hogwarts."

He frowns, thinking about it, then shakes his head.

"Immediate family, anyway."

Because there's a whole long list of extended family.

[lilium_evansiae]

"I don't think there are any Malfoys at Hogwarts presently. Your grandfather graduated some years back."

And his father hasn't been born yet.

"There are certainly none on the Quidditch team, though."

That much she knows.

"Thank you.

"On behalf of the team."

[alsoagreengrass]

"Right. I think you mentioned once before that he had already graduated. So, no Malfoys. And no Greengrasses too, I think. Just the rest of them and none that I truly consider family."

He may be related to a lot of wizards and witches, but it's hard to think of them as family.

"Anyway. Have any plans for your birthday? Quidditch victory or not."

[lilium_evansiae]

Plenty of Blacks, in her days at Hogwarts, though.

Lily might even go so far as to say there's an excess of them.

But then, while it wouldn't surprise Lily to learn that his grandmother is one of Sirius Black's cousins ... she doesn't know it.

"As for plans ... I suspect there are some, people are being cryptic about things, but none that I'm making."

[alsoagreengrass]

"Do you like a big party?" he asks, thinking about his past birthdays, which have mostly been quiet affairs.

[lilium_evansiae]

Lily shrugs.

"Depends on the party and the people there.

"Not usually if they're focused on me."

[alsoagreengrass]

"So no to a big to-do birthday party for you then. Because they generally focus on the birthday person for those. Unless, uhm - There's some sort of gossip going about."

[lilium_evansiae]

"Yes.

"And it seems mean to hope for a scandal, just a bit, doesn't it?"