Surprise Birthday Party

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As the Alayna was still out for the day, thanks to Carina and Astrid, Ptolemy was busy setting up the common room for her surprise party. He had asked the house elves to make all of her favourites, but ensured there was a good selection of canapés and petit fours that everyone with their distinguished tastes would enjoy. There was also a large, three tier cake he had ordered from a bakery in Horizont - chocolate and caramel - with a salmon pink frosting. Champagne flutes were placed to cover one of the side tables, although the Champagne itself was kept out of sight.

He and a few others had hung streamers and paper chains around the room, and there were several hundred balloons bobbing about the high ceiling. Everything was looking in good progress, and it wasn't long before Alayna would be there herself.

Most of Alayna's friends were in Slytherin house, but there were a few from other houses who he'd managed to sneak in. He was sure there'd be at least one person who had something to say about that, but he wouldn't let them ruin what was going to be, hopefully, a very memorable night for her.

"Burke - I'd asked you to put candles on that cake half an hour ago. Will you see to it already?" he snapped impatiently to Hector, getting cranky with some of his 'help'.

"You're very welcome," he responded, lightly clinking their glasses together before taking a sip of his champagne.

"Why, what's an owl doing in here?"

@Bellona Lestrange

Although Phaedra knew what her half-siblings' birthday was for a long time, she never had the courage to write or send them anything until now. She could've sent it to them jointly, but she decided it might be easier for the both of them to have something individual. Their interests to her were unknown, so she decided to give both of them a French-English dictionary so they'd be able to understand each other!

A few days before, she sent the packages out to the owl postal service to deliver directly to her siblings wherever they were on their birthday. As there were no lines of communication between them, she could only assume they were attending Hogwarts.

The owl heading to Alayna opted to skip the owlery altogether and fly its way into the Slytherin common room as Narkissos exited. Swooping between Alayna and Ptolemy, it dropped a wrapped present addressed to her.

Attached to the present was a letter reading:

Dear [sibling name],

Happy Birthday! I am so sad that I was never able to have the celebrations with the both of you over the past 18 years. You see, I was raised and living in France with my mother although we have the same father. I've heard about the both of you for years, and I've always wanted to meet you.

[photo of the two as babies attached along with a photo of her from the same year]

My name is Phaedra, I am 21 years old. I graduated from Beauxbatons and considered doing the exchange program to Hogwarts, but I decided against it as I was afraid it would be awkward. I am ready now to meet the both of you.

Write back and I hope you love your gift!

Bisous,

your sister Phaedra

Alayna giggled with excitement as she watched premy pull out the jewelry box. She gasped when she opened it, "It's beautiful." She then turned for him to put it on her, lifting her hair out the way. She was bit confused when the owl dropped a present and a letter for her, "Must be from mum." As she read the letter, she began to shake until it fell to the floor. She didn't know what to say so she just ran. She ran straight up the stairs and to her dorm. It couldn't be true. There was no way in hell it was true. She didn't have a sister. She had Atti and that was all.

@Ptolemy Rowle

Astrid smiled and joined in the clapping when they had entered the room and everyone cheered for Alayna. It was a bit surreal, she didn’t know people actually planned things like this for others but she was happy for Alayna. And it gave her a reason to party as well! As Alayna ran to Ptolemy, Astrid’s eyes scanned the room. It was full of people! Though, her eyes lingered on only a few as she scanned the familiar faces. The next thing she knew, Hector was approaching her and handing her a glass of champagne which she took daintily. ”Thank you, Hector. We had a lovely day. And this party looks amazing. You guys really outdid yourselves.” she said as she held the glass up to clink with his before taking a sip. Though, she couldn’t shake the feeling she was being watched… her eyes subtly scanned the crowd again as she sipped from the glass. That’s when she spotted him. Aramis stood off to the side of the party and his eyes were locked on her. She smiled quickly over to him before turning her attention back to Hector as Alayna suddenly ran away from the room. ”What is she doing?” surely Hector didn’t know any more than she did but it was strange. Alayna had gone from all smiles to running away as if someone might be chasing her. She didn’t get it…

@Hector Burke @Aramis Lestoat

As he placed the necklace on her and admired her wearing it, the feeling of elation was soon interrupted by the swooping wings of an owl. Ptolemy had to duck slightly as it dropped off a package with a letter, and flew off again.

"What on earth..."

Thinking it could be something from her Mother or brother, he watched her quietly as she read. But her expression gradually sank into despair. Without saying another word, she flung herself straight past him and took off in the direction of the dormitories. Ptolemy stared, bewildered, swallowing as he turned slightly pale.

"Erm..." He glanced around at everyone. "Everyone just - as you were. Enjoy the party. I'll go see to her." And with that note, he took off after her.

It seemed she had gone to her dormitory, as he heard the door open several steps ahead. Taking the stairs two at a time, he got there and saw the back of her. "Alayna?! Whatever is the matter?"

@Alayna Nott

"Excellent. You certainly look preened and pampered, and sensational as always. I do like what you are wearing."

He noticed her eyes turning about to take in everything, although he was glad to have her full attention. There must be some way to convince her that girls like Carina Malfoy and Alayna Nott were no good for her, and she ought to change the company she keeps...

But he had barely opened his mouth to say something else, and a gust of air beside him told of Alayna's departure.

"Oh dear," he said, but sounded very smug about it, "Whatever could have upset her, I wonder." He didn't sound as though he remotely cared.

@Astrid Eriksson

Bellona chuckled as she watched what happened.

"Did he get her a fake?" she chortled, smirking as she saw them both rush away upstairs. "Whatever happened, it's a bit bloody rude of her."

She made no effort to keep her voice down.

@Melanthius Burke

Delightfully, Thius finished his glass of champagne.

"Whatever it was, it must've been better than what we came up with..."

Ha! This party totally backfired.

"Shall we eavesdrop?"

The word was going to spread no matter what...

@Bellona Lestrange

Bellona grinned from ear to ear, sipping a little of her glass.

"Definitely."

She edged towards the staircase, glancing about to check that everyone else was too preoccupied by the confusion to care.

@Melanthius Burke

Before joining her closer to the staircase, Thius refilled his champagne flute. If he and Bellona were going to be entertained, another glass or two of champagne wouldn't hurt. It wasn't like he was a lightweight...

"Did she take the gift with her..?"

If not, they had to find it soon! Just how bad was it?

@Bellona Lestrange

As it wasn't her party, Jeneva could afford to be fashionably late. Tear all that attention away from the fat whale named Alayna. Oh that pregnancy was some of the best news she could've ever received; with Alayna's looks and popularity drastically going down, there is only one way she can go: up.

She dressed herself up in Alayna's signature red and made her way towards Bellona and Thius? Now that was juicy! A fake smile adorned her face as she tapped her friend on the shoulder. "Cheerio! Your hair looks so cute today, Bel!"

It made her want to gag; she could do a much better braid than that!

@Bellona Lestrange

Bellona span, gasping, as someone tapped her.

"Oh thank Merlin it's only you," she said, breathing out, "Thanks... but Alayna's just gone running upstairs from her own party. We're going to see if we can listen in: Rowle's gone shooting up there after her."

Rolling her eyes, she beckoned the two of them.

"Come on, and stay quiet."

@Jeneva Avery

Overseas, in a getaway cabin where he was supposed to be enjoying himself, Atticus had locked himself inside the bathroom. He picked up his crystal, and decided to message Alayna first. Their last messages to one another were birthday congratulations, lots of kisses and hugs - completely different to the tone that was being set by his latest message:

I just got a really weird letter. Did you get one as well?

@Alayna Nott

Alayna? Running from her own party? Excellent!

Nodding, she moved her ear closer to the stairs, wrapping her palm around it as if it'd make any of the words clearer.

"Did she get cheated on?" she inquired, checking her nails.

@Bellona Lestrange

She crept up the stairs, very slowly.

"Hope so. Then they'll break up and it will be my diamond necklace he's getting."

She giggled, listening in.

Alayna sat on her bed trying to focus on her breathing, "I apparently have a sister.... My father has a child with another woman before me and Atticus were born." She was staring at the wall when he crystal chimes. She quickly pulled it out and frowned, "I guess Atti got a letter too. She then replied back to him yeah I got one. What do we do about this?

@Ptolemy Rowle

I'm coming home as soon as I can.

He had to assure her of that, first and foremost.

I just spoke to Mother. She said that it was a cruel joke first of all. Then she started sounding upset. Now she's talking about going to see him, and get some sort of answer.

Of course by 'going to see him' he meant Theodore, in Azkaban.

Are you at your party now? Sorry if I've ruined the surprise. Ptolemy said he was throwing one for you.

He wished that he could take on all this burden himself, and have Alayna just enjoy her birthday party.

Try not to worry about it for now.

He knew that was easier said than done.

Let Mother and I get to the bottom of it.

He paused, thinking of how to calm her down for now.

If it is all true, then we have to ask ourselves if we're really all that surprised. Just try to enjoy your party. I love you, and I'll see you as soon as I can x

@Alayna Nott

"I see..."

He glanced over at the letter that was sent to her, and read some of the words written on there, frowning. Damn this. Whoever this person was, even if they were who they claimed to be, they had absolutely no consideration for Alayna (or Atticus, he supposed). Why write on their birthday, of all days, with such a shocking revelation?

"I think you should ignore it," he said quickly, watching her write messages to Atticus, "I can't help but believe that the person who wrote this was being malicious, and their intentions were merely to ruin your birthday. If someone were to reveal themselves as your half-sibling, wouldn't it be more prudent of them to do it in a more tactful, considerate way? Surely they'd realise that this information would be shocking, and alter your perspective of everything."

He scrunched up the letter in his hands angrily.

"Come on, Alayna. Don't waste your time wallowing over a wicked prank. There is a roomful of people down there who adore you, and actually want to see you happy. This person does not. Don't let them win."

After tossing the letter aside, he held out his hand to her promptly, expecting her to take it and follow him back downstairs.

@Alayna Nott

Alayna felt a bit more reassured as Atticus would be home soon. They would figure it all out. Maybe this was some cruel joke? Ptolemys words made sense to her. Surely this couldn't be real. She looked at his hand before taking it in hers and taking another deep breath, "right. You're right. I'm sorry."

@Ptolemy Rowle

"You have done nothing to apologise for," he told her quietly, wrapping his arms around her waist and holding her for a moment to soothe her. Over her shoulder, his expression was rather sour. Who was bloody doing this? And even if it was this Phaedra - what was she playing at?

"Come, let's go back downstairs again, you look as though you could do with some cake," he said affectionately, smiling as he led her out of the dorms. He could see shadows on the stairs of people below, trying to listen in. Ptolemy frowned.

@Alayna Nott

Bellona wafted them all back down the stairs urgently as she heard Ptolemy's voice.

Well, she's definitely heard some things, but not all of them.

@Melanthius Burke @Jeneva Avery

The conversation was much harder to hear than he initially assumed; were he and the girls going to have to piece snippets together? That'd have to wait until after the party if they weren't able to act normal.

Once back down to the rest of the party, Thius returned to the refreshment table.

Although she knew the tea had to be fresh off the kettle, not hearing too much made it lukewarm. Ugh!

At least it was good enough to put a damper on Alayna's special day! That would always be most satisfying to her.

"Bel, are any of my hairs out of place?"

@Bellona Lestrange

Going down to the refreshment table to get something for Alayna, Ptolemy side glanced at Melanthius. They hadn't said much to one another all day. Come to think of it, Thius hadn't said anything to him for a while now.

"Just a misunderstanding," he stated, knowing that leaving Alayna's sudden departure as a mystery was far too ominous. "So. How are you enjoying yourself? You seem to be spending a lot of time with Bellona Lestrange nowadays."

Taking up a plate and placing some sweet things on it he knew Alayna would like, he kept her in his line of sight whilst talking to his friend.

@Melanthius Burke