Quote:

Originally Posted by sarahlooo

Milton continued to stare at the glorious trophy, although he wasn't really concentrating on it. He was just standing there and waiting to see how long it would take for the little girl to speak up again.

Holduuuuuuuuuuup. FirstyearpuffersayWHAAT? Milton turned around slowly, already glaring holes into the walls. "I beg your pardon..." REALLY. Milton was going to win that championship trophy, no matter what! Even if he had to kick little puffers aside to do it. Except maybe not her because she really was kind of small and cute in all her little evilness.

Oh, was he deaf too?

Lottie simply shrugged, she wanted to keep the smirk in place, but she needed to look serious. That sort of 'Game on' look ended up winning over the smirk. "I said," she started, making a small pause, "That you won't get one," her delicate finger was pointed towards him at the exact moment she said 'you'.

She could get in big trouble if Alec didn't live up to her expectations, though.

"Do I need to repeat myself?" her tone made it sound like she was concerned about his hearing instead of just plain sarcastic.

She didn't like him.

Louisa had organized one corner of the room and lined some chairs by the wall. One of them was a bit farther away with her very first baked cake EVER. Merlin she was getting softer and more sentimental by the moment in Hogwarts, good thing she was leaving soon. Heh. ANYWAYS. She had the pink cake and cupcakes hidden by a charm, if you squint enough you'd notice some irregularities in the air where the chair seat is. It was the best she could do.

The invitations were sent two days ago and in a few minutes they all should be walking in here, WITH A PRESENT... just like she said in the card. Hehe. It was a tie between holding the party in the kitchens or here. The kitchen was good because Louisa didn't have to move the unstable cake up through MOVING staircases, and it being her present to them made the move a very dangerous thought. But the kitchen where house-elves hung out and random students walked in to steal have a snack was just not right. The trophy room symbolized a lot more for a birthday small bash. Moving the cake took about two and a half hours, just because she was being careful.

As Cuddles and Viola stared at the shiny stuff nearby she paced up and down biting her nails. She'd be really really annoyed if that man eating plant showed up.

Lex Practically bolted down every set of stairs she hit after leaving the common room. She didn't want to be late but she already was. 5pm was such a vague time...it could've meant anything really. As she neared the trophy room she slowed to something a little slower than a fast walk. If she was being honest she was excited about the party--it was gonna be celebrating her Mama Vivi's birthday!!!...Vickers' too but with him she was a little less enthused because of his little spout of meaness. Still she asked her father to owl her two gifts because it really wasn't his fault...oldness got the better of people all the time.

When she walked in there she relaxed a bit. Only Louisa had arrived which clearly meant she wasn't late.

"Allo..." She walked into the room and gave Louisa a small before tugging on her dress. There were two things wrong with it. First, it was pink and second--it was a dress. SIGH. She would just have to get over it. Lex walked behind the girl and began pacing with her. It was either that or sit and wait for the others to arrive. No thank you.

With two nearly identical wrapped packages in hand, Max made his arrival at the trophy room in a navy blue dress shirt, a slim white tie, wrinkle-free black pants, and shiny black shoes. Peeking in, he was relieved to see that Louisa and Lex were the only ones there yet. That was good - he worried he was going to walk in after the surprise was revealed to Vivi and Vickers.

"Hey guys," Max greeted, giving Lex a polite nod as he instinctively neared Louisa. There... didn't seem to be any grand decorations or cake or... anything that made the room feel like a party room, really. Except the shiny trophies. But maybe Louisa just didn't have time to prepare more things. Surely Vickers and Vivi would simply be honored there was a party for them, though. "Erm, is there somewhere we're putting the presents?" He held up his two packages with uncertainty.

Milton wasn't entirely sure why they were having a birthday party in the trophy room... It didn't really scream "OMGBIRTHDAYPARTY" to him, but whatever. Their choice, he supposed. Speaking of THEM, Milton had both of their presents in hand. He took a long time to pick out Vivi's present, but not Vickers. He didn't even really know Vickers, so he just got a boring old card. Meh.

"Heeello," he said as he entered the room. The Head Girl, a first year, and rather Hufflepuffy Ravenclaw. What a party. Milton walked over to Max and eyed his outfit. "Looking sharp, mate," he said, clapping his hand on the seventh year's shoulder not-so-gently. Just 'cause.

When was Vivi getting here?

She was not late yet, right? RIGHT?! She turned her arm over and stared at the time on her wristwatch as she hurriedly ran along the third-floor corridors, two small boxes, in pink and silver pressed against her chest. She had been just with Dylan, helping him study for OWLs. Their study session ought to have run for an hour more, but today was an exemption.

Of course. Vivi's and Vicker's birthday? She would never pass up the opportunity to celebrate it with them.

Run. Run. Run

Catching her breathe, she stopped in front of the door and brushed the fingers of her other hand that was free from the gifts against her skirt. She shuffled a bit on where she stood and smoothed her hair too. Finally, feeling more composed, she stepped inside and immediately smiled at those already present. "Hey Max...Coco," she nodded at them both before turning to the girl she wasn't too familiar with. "Hello." Well..the girl's face was familiar, but not the name. She was that kid who caused a lot of trouble during classes, if Beezus' memory wasn't failing her.

"Louisa!" The brunette was then standing next to the Head Girl. The organizer of their event. Oh, and hello to you too cats!

Louisa paused pacing when Alexa walked into the room first, her face beaming at the younger gryffindor. "Hey Alexa!" Oh wait, why was she eying Louisa's dress like that?! Was it wrinkly? The older girl couldn't help but smooth it down a bit. It wasn't that short anyways. Hmph. Then quickly came in Max. "Hi Max!" She noticed the absence of Emmaleigh but didn't comment on it. The Hufflepuff must be on her way. Oh. Right, the presents. Umm.. "I didn't really set a corner for presents. I was thinking we should attack them as soon as we shout surprise." GRIN. She didn't like subtlety as you could tell. She was eying his lovely outfit and about to comment on it when Milton arrived next, confident and stuck-up ish as always. "Fancy seeing you with two gifts." Louisa patted his arm as she passed him to the lined chairs against the wall.

It was very fortunate that no one seemed interesting in sitting one of those chairs. They'd probably just ruin her plan. Louisa started dragging the chairs around forming a wide circle around the invisible cake chair. Her head snapped up when someone squeaked her name, "Hi Bee! Glad you could make it." She was going to miss this kid. Ugh.

"Okay, I have two notes here.." she brought them from the top of this glassy trophy box. "..I have an owl tied in the corridor, I'll send them the notes and we will wait for them to come. As soon as I illuminate the place again, we all... well surprise them." she was SO excited. Louisa skipped out the room and did as she said and then walking back in. There was no need to 'hide' really, with a wave of her wand the room was pitch dark and she had to feel her way through coming to a stop when her arms were wrapped around someone (Alexa by the height of the person, hehe). "Don't. Breathe." Breathing made sound.

Now they wait.

It was nearly dinnertime and Vivi wasn't sure what Louisa had been doing out roaming the corridors and breaking things anyway. She should be in the dorm with Vivi, studying for NEWTs and keeping up on homework. Because now both girls were out of the dorm and not studying.

Still, it was a sure thing that if Louisa sent for help, Vivi would show up and offer it. She paused in the doorway of the room and wondered why it was so dark. Hadn't Louisa said she'd be here? Had she gotten tired of waiting and left?

Or what if Vickers had already spoken to Louisa about the conversation in the library, and Louisa wanted to have words with Vivi? Or worse... fisticuffs? If that was the case... well, Vivi would probably let the other girl do her worst. "Louisa?"

Louisa broke something.....

..... in the TROPHY Room

Naturally no sooner had the note registered in his head, Vickers zoomed out of the dorms. running down corridors and leaping down staircases. He figured if Louisa went so much as asking for help when she broke something.... it means it was BAD.

So he turns the corner into the threshold of the Trophy room and nearly runs into the only other person there that he could see in the darkness. "Viv?" he mutters seeing the paleness of her hair catch whatever little light poured into the doorway. "What are you do-- " eh nevermind that, Louisa mustve asked for her help too. Which means it was really REALLY bad. "Louisa?" Why was it so dark in here? "Is that what you broke? The light?"

Vivi jumped at the sound of a voice behind her, and her hand immediately reached for her wand. Merlin... that was just Vick. Definitely not Louisa lurking in the dark with her wand out or anything. Although, really, if there was a list of people who ought to lurk in dark places with a wand intending to hex Vivi, Vick was probably second on the list after Louisa.

Not making any friends this term, are you, Vivi?

She reached out a hand in the dark, and her fingers touched his wrist for a moment before her hand fell back to her side, just wanting the reassurance that he was there. Even if he wanted to hex her. In truth, her fingers still rested on the handle of her wand, but it was sort of casual looking.

"Louisa owled me. Did you..." Tell her anything, she finished silently.

It was an understatement to say that Louisa was nervous standing here in the dark trying not to breathe. She was almost sure everyone was hearing it thudding against her chest as they waited. "Maybe I should've made it sound more urgent." Her hand that clutched the wand was getting sweatier by the second. The spells she wanted to use, as soon as both of them made their appearance, were echoing in her head over and over again.

...

xxxxxxx...

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx...

VIVI CAME! Louisa didn't light the room, waiting for Vickers, and she was a bit disappointed that they didn't meet on the staircase or weren't studying together. That would've been NOT a lame entrance to their party. Oh well, he came a minute or so afterwards.

Louisa waved her wand, the room bursting into blazing light as she shouted, "SURPRIIIIIIIIIIIIISE!" The empty chair set in the middle of the circle of chairs revealed the cake that she baked this morning, the chairs that formed the circles erupted into the shape of balloons. Maybe they were too childish for an 18th birthday party but Louisa couldn't find more mature ones in Hogsmeade. Good thing there was Alexa here to enjoy them, hehe.

"Happy birthday you guys!" She clapped her hands once and launched herself at Vivi first, hugging and patting her back before moving on to Vickers and locking her lips with his for a biiit too long before pulling away and waiting for the others to be done with their wishes.

Elijah and Emmaleigh were late. They were going to have a nice long speech from Louisa when they show up, no worries.

Moving to where the cake sat on the stool in the middle of balloons, she beamed at everyone and pointed to the corner of the room where the Quidditch trophies were neatly lined in glassy boxes. "I put the plastic plates and forks over there. You guys should try my very first baked cake! It's my present to both my friend Vivi and boyfriend Vickers." Although the latter gets a little something else later this evening. Hehe.

Lex watched as the other guests trickled in one behind the other. Max got a wide smile but the smile left her face when she saw the other guest walk in. Ravenclaw Captain Person. She didn't like him. He had some nerve kissing her Mama Vivi and on the pitch nonetheless! She forced the smile back on when another girl she'd seen around greeted her. "Hi!" He would not ruin her evening. Nope.

Her attention turned to Louisa again when she started giving them instructions on how the surprize would work. The idea sounded grand. Her eyes widened a bit when the lights went off then the next thing she knew there was someone latching onto her...? Louisa? And she couldn't breathe? Right...

Oh here they were!!! The 11 year old had to stifle a snicker when she heard them talking among themselves and once the lights were back on...

"SURPRIIIIIIIISE!!!"

She spun for a minute when the chairs suddenly became balloons. NEAT. But in that time Louisa beat her to Vivi. Ahem. She would just go next. "Happy birthday Mama Vivi!!!!" Then she lunged at her and gave her a big hug. "I got this for you!" She said, revealing a present she thought she'd really like. Then she turned to Vickers. "And this is yours." GRIN. He'd better had appreciated it because rarely did she give something of this nature to anyone but herself.

She followed them over to the cake and didn't waste time in being the first to grab a plate and fork then snag a piece. Oh the sweet promise of sugar--

O_____O

She forced the bite down then looked over at the girl who seemed so proud of her creation. "I wouldn't go around telling anyone that I baked this if I was you...." Some things were better left to Puffers...

Beezus had just been grinning widely as Louisa welcomed her, arranged the chairs (which did not seem to have served its purpose since almost all of them stuck to just standing), gave them instructions, and got rid of the light. She hugged the gift boxes closer to her chest as she fought a giggle when the Head Girl told their Gryffindor friend not to breathe. Of course, she too, held hers. Just to add effect to their drama, you know.

Minutes trickled past and neither of the two celebrants had made an appearance. Her knuckles had already gone white from the lack of oxygen supply in her body, because she literally took the whole 'Do not breathe' scheme to heart. What was taking them so long? Unable to endure it no more, she heaved in a deep intake of air....but that was when she heard Vivi's voice muttering out the Head Girl's name in the darkness, followed by hurried footsteps and Vicker's boy voice resounding against the silence. They were here! And the sudden realization messed up her airways, irritating her throat, making her spew out sputtering sounds. She tried to hold everything in but not so much as suceeded.

Not too long after, thankfully, Louisa flicked her wand and once again, the room was illuminated. "SUR--" *coughcough* "--PRIIIIIISE!" Ugh. Her throat hurt. But it didn't hinder the wide, merry, enthusiastic smile she offered Vivi and Vickers.

Beezus took the time to cough freely into her hand as the two other girls approached the birthday celebrants, handing out their gifts and greetings. By the way, why didn't she hear anything from Milton and Max? Rubbing her chest, she glanced at the two. Heh, boys. Party poopers. After a few more choking noises from her, she walked over to Vivi and Vickers. "Happy birthday to you two!" The fourth year lunged towards her fellow Chaser first. "Mama Vi, I got you something." She said as she pressed the pink box which housed her gift into the girl's hands. And...errr, she stepped closer to Vickers and hugged him too, for just a few seconds mind you, and also gave him his gift . "You too, Vickers."

Beam. Beam. Beamzzz.

Wait, what? There was cake? O.o Where did that come from? That chair had been empty when she got there! She looked at Louisa before nodding to hersf. OH. She hid it...with magic. So Milton won't go pouncing immediately on it. Yeah, most likely. Hehe.

She grabbed Vivi's arm, pulling the blonde to where the cake was. "You do eat cake, don't you?" Because either way, she HAD to eat. There was no chocolate present on it, right?

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight?

Milton stood off to the side and waited, nodding to Beezus and wondering if she would ever stop calling him Coco. He was fond of the nickname now, but it was just odd. Then again, so was she, so whatever. Milton gave his nods and hello's to the others until.... it was pitch black. Hopefully they weren't supposed to hide, because Milton probably would have tripped over everything and accidentally eaten the whole cake.

A minute later, Milton heard Vivi at the door. Did they yell yet? He had never done one of these things before, so he had no idea. BUT since no one was yelling yet, Milton kept his trap shut.

Then he heard Vickers arrive. Could they yell yet....? Because Milton was getting bored of waaaaiting. Surely there was enough suspense now, ri-

O_O Apparently it was time to yell!

"Supriiiiiiiiiiiiiise yaaaaaaaaaayy... Eh. Major delay due to Milton's slow brain. Slightly awkward. But they got the idea, right? It was a fantastic bloody surprise. Woohoo!

Milton cleared his throat and made his way over to the birthday girl. After the first couple people handed over presents, Milton approached Vivi and gave her a kiss on the corner of her mouth. "Happy birthday, love," he said with a small smile and handed over a small gift bag which contained a small box which contained her small present.

Then he turned slightly to Vickers and shoved a boring old birthday card in his direction. "I don't know you. But happy birthday." Yep. Back to Vivi to see her reaction. Had he done well picking out a necklace? Because it took him like, forever.

Louisa owled her... so he guessed right. "She owled me too." he said showing her the piece of parchment frantically crumpled in his hand which he had momentarily forgotten in his mad rush to get to get to Louisa's aid or so he thought. Just when Vivi quietly asked about something he nearly jumped out of his skin when a deafening cheer echoed all around him, blinding lights flooded his vision and something was flying.at.his.face. If there was a time the hand was quicker than the eye those balloons must've felt it.

Just when he was blinking the exploding stars from his eyes he felt a tackle!hug and warm luscious lips press against his. Hello cloud nine....!

And he would've stayed there too, had he not been brought back to reality with Louisa stepping aside and allowing him to be squished in another hug by... Beezus?... and Lex! "Th-Thanks guys!" he mumbled grinning, face flushed as this was possibly the first time anybody from school celebrated his birthday because it was always about cramming for finals around this time. This was definitely something new.

He lifted the box that is Lex' gift first. A box of chocolates, wasnt there some Muggle saying about life and boxes of chocolates? "That's real sweet of you Lex, Thank you!" he grinned broadly and he looped an arm around her and gave her a big brother hug. Next he opened Beezus' gift and his eyes brightened up, impressed as only a Ravenclaw can with this kind of present "Beezus, its a great looking quill. Thank you!" again another one-armed hug to the Ravenclaw brunette.

He glanced at Vivi with a bemused grin. There was noting to be scared of after all eh? "And a happy birthday to you too Viv!" he greeted her smiling broadly. Then, for a spliiiit second, hesitated before giving her a warm hug. It was her birthday too and she deserved a hug right? Makes sense to his logic.

It was then that he sees Milton and his birthday card and that kiss he tried play blind with "Uh thanks Captain..." Really he as surprised he showed up at all-- before catching himself and remembering that more than half the people here were Quidditch players.

But NOW his attention returns to his own ginger gal, who as soon as she was within arms reach from her hustling and bustle he swooped his arm around her waist, pulling her close enough to whisper sweetly in her ear "You cooked this up didnt you?" he smirked. The surprise party he meant of course... but apparently she literally did cook-- or rather bake-- something! "A cake? Aww thanks Louisa you really shouldnt have--did you make this? It looks awesome!" He was quite eager to sample it. Alexa did too, as she beat everybody else to it. Focused on securing a piece from himself before the entire thing disappears into bottomless pits this Ravenclaw completely misses the young Gryffindor's precious reaction. The cake looked really moist... was that creamy part layer filling?... with powdered sugar in between? He shoves a forkful into his mouth, convinced this was as incredible as it look----

................
...........
.......
...
..


Seriously, does anyone think he would actually swallow this?....


....... of course he would.


He turns away for a second so that nobody sees his eyes bulging out of its sockets as he forced the cake down his throat. Turning back around a cough escapes his lips, as well as a nice visible powdery leftover of flour. "Awesome..." he squeaked, a tight grin plastered across his face. And his throat must've dried completely because nothing would come out when he tried to ask for something to drink, so he made the motion with his hand. A drink please? Before he suffocates...

She wasn't even sure Vickers heard her question before the lights exploded around them, with sound and balloons and a ginger Ravenclaw throwing herself at them. Louisa would never know how close she came to losing her eyebrows... or her entire face... and Vivi carefully returned her wand back to her holster and hugged the girl back.

"A... what? Birthday?" That wiped away any remaining caution that this was a weird trap, and Vivi smiled broadly at those gathered here. Her Baby Lion and her Baby Chaser and Max and Milton. And Louisa, of course, who got an extra bright smile... and was currently sucking the face off Vickers. Vivi, who had always been terrible at hiding her feelings, gave them both a stricken look before her attention was grabbed by her Baby Lion.

"Oh, THANK you, Baby Lion," Vivi huggled the smaller girl for as long as Lex would let herself be huggled, and then she turned her attention on the gift. A locket... with their faces inside. If that wasn't the most charming and thoughtful gifts, then Vivi wasn't sure what was. She plucked the necklace out of the box and immediately put it on. "Did you make this yourself? Now I have to look at your face every day after graduation... or was that the idea?"

It was such a pretty gift, and Vivi admired it until Beezus handed over her gift with a hug as well. She squeezed the younger Ravenclaw tightly, although her eyes were on the pink box in her hand. All these gifts... it sort of made up for the fact that people didn't really do Christmas gifts at Hogwarts, didn't it? As soon as she released poor Beezus to breathe again, Vivi tore into the girl's gift and revealed a pretty hair clip in Ravenclaw colors. She held it up to her blond hair and modeled it for Beezus' approval. "For looking more like a girl, right?"

Speaking of people things that made her feel like a girl, Vivi spotted Milton over Beezus' shoulder. She released the younger girl and accepted his gift with a silly-looking grin. For all that her emotions were in a constant turmoil about things, Milton always made her feel good. He was just easy to be with, which was a nice change when her own brain made even being alone with her thoughts an emotional upheaval. Even before she opened the gift, she sort of snuggled at his side. The gift (wait... he'd just called her love. That was awfully sweet of him... right?!?!) was in a little gift bag, and Vivi shook the contents out in her hand. Holy... Merlin's... toesocks. That was beautiful. And it was for HER?

"For me?" she asked, quite stupidly. Two necklaces and a hairclip had pretty much doubled Vivi's current jewelry, and all of it was nicer than anything she owned. "Thank you. All of you. It makes me sort of wish I wasn't graduating, so I could stay and make it up to you somehow." Because all of them, even Louisa and her face-eating, were incredibly thoughtful and she would miss them, if she let herself.

Vivi pressed a kiss to Milton's mouth, this one a bit more friendly than his had been, and then Beezus was dragging her away to the cake. She struggled to put the second necklace on, fighting with the clasp as she and Beezus overlooked the rather impressive cake Louisa had made... and the rather terrible face that Vickers made when he took a bite.

"I'M ALLERGIC TO CAKE," she announced, very solemn and very LOUD.

Louisa squinted her eyes at Lex. What exactly did she mean by that? "It's my birthday present for them. I spent all morning working on it so it looked like this. I sure as heck want to say I'm the one who baked it!" HMPH. It was times like these when you could mistake Louisa for an eleven years old.

Turning her attention to Vickers as he excitedly joined the first year lioness at the cake, she (Louisa) clasped her hands to her chest and waaaaaaited.. waaaaaaaaited.... waaaaa-- why did he turn away? She leaned sideways trying to get a look at him but he soon came back to view with a slightly tight smile. She hopped closer to him and got the flour huff right in her face. "Whoa.." laughing and blinking away. "What was that..." Still laughing. "Hmm?" She frowned at the gestures he was making with his hands. He wanted a drink? Uh oh. Louisa hooked her hands together and shyly started rocking on her spot, "I forgot to prepare drinks. I mean I did have other things in mind, but do you have. Any. Idea. How HARD was it to make a cake? I'm not a kitchen girl apparently."

.... who's allergic to cake?!!!!

Vivi? Yeah, right. Louisa rolled her eyes and snorted. "No, you're not. And I might just get offended by this attitude, Miss Branxton." She wasn't going to force anyone to eat it but Vivi MUST do it. It's her present! So the Ravenclaw baker grabbed a fork, stabbed the cake with it and headed to the blonde Ravenclaw. "It's my gift to you, you can't refuse a gift." Duuhhh, it's in the friends rule book. Aaaaand Louisa tried to shove put the fork into Vivi's mouth.