E P I L O G U E
2nd November 1978
There wasn’t a birthday that Solana had ever enjoyed, she hated them all and didn’t think she would ever enjoy the day, but when you’re friends with James Potter you will never hate your birthday.
He had made that promise as soon as she told him.
When Solana woke up the morning of her 19th Birthday she turned to face her boyfriend.
“Morning,” Remus brushed aside her hair, “Happy birthday, love,”
She smiled brightly, kissing him. “Thank you.”
He reached down into the bedside cabinet, picking you a giant bag of cockroach clusters, “Now this isn’t your main present–”
“I fucking love you!” she grinned while opening the bag, she always offered him one first before picking the largest cluster and biting down on it. “Best birthday ever–”
“It’s only just begun,” Remus said, shaking his head, but kept a grin on his face.
Solana smiled, lying back and resting her head on his shoulder.
“I already know this is going to be my best birthday,”
“Because you’re with me?” He raised his brows playfully.
“Nah, James said he’s planning my party–” Solana chuckled at his frown. “And I’m with you,” she kissed his cheek.
She heard shouting and commotion downstairs. “Who is shouting?” she asked.
Remus rolled his eyes. “James ordered your balloons but they are forest green not emerald green so he’s throwing a fit downstairs.”
Solana’s grin grew wider. “I have balloons?”
He nodded, “You have balloons,”
“I’ve never had balloons,” she told him softly.
He stroked her head, “I will make sure you have balloons for every single birthday.”
☀︎
“Okay the balloons are the right colour, commotion over!” James boomed loudly.
“It’s only taken you three hours to remember the spell,” Peter rolled his eyes.
James pulled his middle finger up at him. “I will not be taking any criticism at this time,”
Solana looked around the room in awe, there was a large sign covering a frame with Happy Birthday Solana hung up on the wall, a balloon arch and several other balloons floating around the room, and food covered the table as if it was the welcoming feast.
“This is all for me?” Solana gasped.
“Course it is!” James said, with his signature James Potter smile. “Also much to every ones displeasure, other than Remus’ there's a whole load of cockroach clusters under one of the trays, still don’t know how you eat them,”
Solana grinned, and looked up at Remus as he wrapped his arm around her.
“Happy birthday Auntie Lana!” Nymphadora squealed, running into the Potter Manor’s dining room, Andromeda followed behind her daughter, giving her sister a big hug.
“Happy Birthday, Lana,” Andromeda said, hugging her tightly.
“Thank you, Andy, I’m glad you’re here,” she said, squeezing just as tight.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,”
Solana had a bright smile on her face all day, and she was extremely happy when they brought out a giant chocolate cake.
She closed her eyes as she blew out the candles making a wish.
I hope to always have birthdays like this one.
Later that night whilst the music was blaring and Sirius was counting down the minutes until it was his birthday, Solana found a packet of cigarettes on the side, she picked them up and headed out into the garden.
The Potters had welcomed her in after what had happened, she was grateful for them especially since they didn’t know her, but James always told her that there would always be a place for her at the manor.
She sat down on the seat swing in front of the large fountain, shivering slightly in the cold as she lit the tip of the cigarette and inhaled.
She felt a pat on her shoulder, she glanced over and saw a small purple paper crane.
She smiled softly, Narcissa wouldn’t be able to talk to her anymore, but Solana would always be in her heart.
“Hey?” she heard Remus walking towards her.
She smiled up at him, “Hey,”
He took his jumper off and handed it to her.
“I’m not cold,” she told him.
“Yes you are,” he said, giving her a look.
Solana rolled her eyes handing him the cigarette as she put his jumper on, she grew warm instantly.
“Thank you,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder.
“So,” he began. “What did you wish for?”
Solana shook her head. “I can’t tell you, otherwise it won’t come true,”
He breathed out a laugh, “That’s an old wives tale, you can tell me,”
She looked up at him, her smile grew again, “I wished that all my birthdays will be like this,”
Remus nodded, and kissed her head, “I promise you that all your birthdays will be like this,”
☀︎
2nd November 1981
Solana hurried down the seaside town street, dodging everyone and getting angry shouts from pedestrians telling her to slow down, but she didn’t listen to them, she didn’t even wipe the tears falling down her face.
She ran and ran until she got to the bright blue door, pounding on it so hard that it almost fell off its hinges.
“Lana?” Andromeda asked, opening it, she pulled her inside the house when she saw that her little sister was crying. “Lana, what’s happened? Where’s Remus?”
Solana couldn’t find her voice, she shook her head and the tears continued.
“Solana?”
“I–I think we just– we just broke up.”