Birthday Surprises
1991-First Year
It was November 5th. Elizabeth’s birthday. She turned 12 years old and was excited. Olivia, Erin, Luna and Isaac wouldn’t tell her what they planned for the evening, but they seemed really excited about it.
She never had many birthday parties per say. At school, many of the girls somewhat singled her out because of her English heritage. Her French was as good as theirs and she had lived in France for the majority of her life, but that didn’t mean much to them. Todd thinks it’s because the French and English historically have a bit of a rivalry. So, he tries to make up for it. He takes the day off and tells her school she won’t be in and they have a fun day together. Honestly, she doesn’t think being pulled out of school helps either.
Once, on her 7th birthday, he took her to the Monet Gardens. Very touristy, but it since it was fall, it was mainly empty. They had to go a couple days earlier due to it being a seasonal site, but that was okay. It was Halloween when they went. Perfectly adding to the magic of the spooky season.
He would explain what each plant was good for. She just thought they looked pretty even though they weren’t in bloom necessarily.
“Okay so for tonight, you need to meet us in front of the Great Hall at 5:30 before dinner. Also, dress warmly. Liz?”
Elizabeth was pulled from her thoughts and nodded. “5:30 at the Great Hall. Got it.”
They were chatting, eating breakfast. Suddenly, an apple muffin appeared on her plate with a candle on top. A little note was sitting underneath it. No one else really noticed it. She slid the paper.
Happy Day of Birth! – Mipsy
Elizabeth had told the elf it was her birthday today and she had to explain the significance of a birthday. Never thought it would be a queer idea for the house elves, but oh well. She blew the candle out and peeled the muffin liner off.
The muffin had chunks of apple scattered about and a sugar and cinnamon coating on top. She bit in and absolute heaven. She needed to ask Mipsy for the recipe. She let out a noise of appreciation.
“What’s that?” Luna asked.
“Oh, it’s a muffin. It was the last one. Sorry.”
“Okay.” She turned away.
She smiled at the muffin. It was nice to have friends in the kitchens.
…
It was a normal Tuesday for all intents and purposes. There was no special treatment from professors because why would there be. Her friends kept whispering to each other, probably confirming plans.
In History of Magic, Malfoy barely glanced at her. Not that she was expecting for him to wish her a happy birthday even though she did tell him. They weren’t that close. No, he didn’t care. She didn’t care either.
When classes were over, they went back to their dorms to change into some other clothes. Skirts and robes apparently were not good for what they were going to do. Erin and Luna left her in the dorm to go help Oli and Isaac finish setting up.
She looked over her clothing options. They told her to wear long pants, but what does that mean. Were they going outside or staying in? Were they going to dinner?
She grabbed her blue jeans. They were her favourite and most worn if the faded colour was any indication. She pulled on a white t-shirt and a dark blue sweater with gold stars decorating the cuffs and collar of it. This was her parents’ gift. When they heard she was in Ravenclaw, they thought that it would fit her perfectly. It was pretty big. Her sleeves went past he fingers and it fell past her hips, but she rolled the sleeves to her wrists and she was good.
They also had gotten her the next two books in the Anne of Green Gables series: Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island. Elizabeth did really like the story, but some of it made her feel sad. In no ways was she an orphan, but her parents weren’t really part of her life. They sent her away and she ended up with her uncle Todd. He made her think of the Cuthberts. Both of them. The shy and loving Matthew and the stern and hilarious Marilla.
Anyway, Liz’s parents apologised for not being there for Christmas, but they did promise to see her when summer came. They would show her peaceful PEI, lively Montreal, etc. It did sound beautiful and she hadn’t been there in a long, long time, but she was skeptical. As much as they love her, they didn’t always keep to their promises. It was okay. Elizabeth learnt to not get her hopes up when it came to her parents. It was okay.
Elizabeht looked down at her watch. She had 15 minutes to go down and meet them. She emptied her bag of her school stuff and grabbed a couple of essentials: aspirin, a bottle of water, a book, her Walkman, tissues, hand sanitizer, and a couple other things. She picked up her jacket and left the dorm.
When she got to the Great Hall, they were all waiting for her. They saw her and immediately crowded her and singing happy birthday. Elizabeth laughed and her face was reddening with embarrassment. The few people were looking over at the racket and she wished that she could disappear at that moment.
“Thank you. Thank you,” she said trying to get them to calm down. They quieted down and started pulling her towards a staircase going down.
“First, we need to make a stop to some little helpers,” Olivia smiled smugly. She was enjoying this a little too much.
Erin linked arms with her and they kept walking. She started recognizing the path. One that she had taken a many Sunday nights.
They reached their destination: a painting of a fruit basket.
“So, remember when I talked about the kitchens?” Olivia asked, back facing the painting.
Elizabeth nodded.
“Well, they have made us a special dinner for…” Everyone around started drumming on their thighs. They cleared rehearsed this. ‘A PICNIC on the lake!”
Olivia turned around and tickled the pear and the doorway opened.
She skipped inside and immediately turned around with her arms wide. Her smile was extremely contagious. Elizabeth felt her own smile coming on.
“WELCOME!”
Isaac went over to the elves and started discussing. Liz guessed it was to get the picnic they had asked for. Some of the elves she recognized, but many of the ones she had spoken to were from the clean up crew, but she did see Mipsy from the corner of her eye. The elf hadn’t noticed her and she kind of the elf wouldn’t so she didn’t blow her cover.
“Surprised?” Erin asked her.
“Very. Thank you again. It’s all so sweet.”
“Olivia came up with most of it. Isaac was the one who actually convinced the elves to help us. He talked to a house elf. Mipsy was her name, I think. Anyway, once we told her it was you, she seemed very happy to help. We thought it was a bit weird. Do you know her?”
Well. That’s it. She was done for. What does she say?!
“Ummm, yeah maybe. That night when Olivia mentioned the kitchens. I actually came back here to get something. She was probably the one I talked to.”
“Ah, that’s why.”
They finally got their picnic and it was all neatly wrapped and placed in a basket.
“Alrighty, to the lake.” Olivia announced, holding onto Luna. They walked out first. Erin and Isaac closely behind. Both holding onto the basket. Elizabeth stayed a bit behind.
She turned around and Mipsy had finally seen her. She gave a little wave and the elf waved back enthusiastically, a big smile on her face.
She walked out with her friends and the doorway closed behind her.
Soon, they made their way outside. The cold wind immediately hitting them. Luna placed a warming charm on the group and they ventured outside. The sun was still up, but it was definitely heading for the horizon. Olivia was holding a lantern in front of them, lighting their path.
Fall had taken over by this point. The grass had turned a shade of yellow and crunched under their feet. The trees were mostly stripped of their colourful leaves. They scattered the ground in messy heaps. Many of them were floating on the Black Lake, not caring about the very likely freezing temperature.
Elizabeth still could feel the chill of the air, but with all her layers and the warming charm, it was pleasurable.
They had made it to their spot and Olivia grabbed a blanket from her bag. She spread it on the ground and they all sat in a circle.
Isaac opened the basket and started pulling different little packages.
“Okay, so I asked them to basically make the same dinner they have inside, but with a couple extra things. So, we have some chicken, potatoes, apple pie, crisps, a thermos with hot chocolate, ummm. What else? Oh, carrots, beans, macarons. I don’t remember asking for those. Anyway, …”
He continued listing the different foods. The elves had really packed anything they could into the picnic basket. Everyone started grabbing from different containers and placing them on the plates that were at the bottom of the bag.
Everyone chatted happily. The subject of the troll from Halloween came up. Erin retold the story of Liz had gotten separated from her by the troll and heroically led it away from them.
“I felt like I was in a Doctor Who episode.”
“Okay, I still don’t get what a telly is. Moving pictures, but not like the ones we have?” Olivia questioned. This conversation was a familiar one. Isaac and Erin would sit there and explain to Olivia and Luna about the muggle world and especially about television. It fascinated Olivia. Luna just seemed happy to be included.
After a lengthy discussion, they started playing a game of truth or dare. Luna had dared Erin to put her hands in the lake. Isaac confessed that he had eaten a worm once. Olivia had a handstand competition with Luna.
“Truth or dare?” asked Olivia.
“Umm truth,” Elizabeth answered. She was not about to do something crazy.
“Do you have a crush on anyone in the school?”
Liz’s face reddened. There wasn’t anyone in that she was interested in. Not a boy with grey eyes. Nope.
“I do not.”
“I don’t believe you. You’re blushing like mad.”
“I really don’t.” Liz answered touching her cheeks. They were very warm.
“I’ll figure it out sooner or later.”
Night started making itself known. The sun had set an hour ago, but its light hadn’t fully disappeared. The clouds had parted by the evening and the stars sparkled in the dark sky.
“We should head back inside. We don’t want to miss curfew,” Luna said.
They all agreed and cleaned up their mess. Isaac was able to hold the basket himself now that it was not filled with food. They trudged back to the castle. The night air was much colder and the heating charm was wearing off.
The group made it back and started saying their goodbyes. Olivia gave Liz a big hug and continued to wish her a happy birthday. Isaac gave her a high five almost dropping the basket hard on the ground. They parted there in front of the Great Hall.
“Did you enjoy it? I know we couldn’t do much, but...” Erin started.
“I loved it.”
“It was good that we left though. The Wrackspurts were starting to crawl over to us.” Luna said nonchalantly.
What a Wrackspurt was, Liz had no idea, but her and Erin nodded and moved on. They went back to their dorm and with a last happy birthday wishes. Elizabeth fell asleep feeling happy. She had friends who would go out of their way to celebrate her birthday. Who wouldn’t be happy knowing that?