Waking up on the morning of her 12th birthday Lily rolls out of bed, shrieking as she hits the floor. She sits up and grabs her slippers and a light blue shower caddy. She jumps in surprise as Snuffles shuffles his way out from under her favourite quilt Mrs Weasley sent with Ginny to give her to make up for her birthday the year before. Rising from the floor she pets him on the head and grabs Claude from his little basket before entering the washroom. Putting some warm water and soap in the sink, Lily dips Claude in, keeping him half in she begins to brush him with his little brush, cleaning between his spikes. She cleans under his talons and in between his toe pads. Putting it away she scoops water out of the sink, rinsing him off. Pulling out an even smaller brush she puts some paste on it, brushing his little teeth. Once Claude's weekly bath is over she dries him off and puts him in his Halloween jumper. It's orange with a little black pumpkin on it. She sets him outside the bathroom before showering herself, she pulls on her fluffy blue robe and some slippers. Walking back into their dorm room she sits at one of the four vanities the girls set up and begins her curly hair routine. As she combs her hair she watches Ari yawn and rub her eyes.

Ari throws her covers off before screaming, "It's your birthday!!" The rest of their dormmates darted up in surprise. Ari wraps around Lily, shaking her in joy. "You're twelve now! I am so excited to celebrate you today, and it's Halloween, the like two of the best holidays there are combined!"

They laugh together as Astoria and Grace groggily crawl out of bed. The three girls sprint towards their friend, Lily shrieks as they tackle her onto her dorm bed. They begin tickling her, ignoring her gales of laughter. Finally, they heave her from her bed and push her towards their collective vanities.

This school year they've decided to change things up in their dorm, instead of just their four beds spread out with their chests at the foot. However, over the summer, the three pureblood girls's parents decided that they all needed somewhere bigger to do their hair and makeup. The three sets met up during the annual Malfoy summer get-together and discussed things before coming up with a plan to buy them all matching vanities. During their conversation, they talk about how their girl's fourth roommate, a Potter, lived with her aunt and uncle and won't be able to get one so they just bought her one too. When the girls arrived at Hogwarts that year they were pleasantly surprised to find all their beds closer together with their four matching vanities deked with mirrors lit with fairy lights side by side by side by side against the back wall.

This is where Ari has Lily sit as she pulls a large box out from under her bed, garnished with a sparkly pink bow and a card. "Arty sent this to me at the beginning of the month for you. It's positively precious."

Opening the card Lily laughs out at the little swan dancing around on it with the words Happy Birthday spelt out. He wrote her a little note that practically brought her to tears. Once the card is carefully placed back inside its envelope Lily rips apart the wrapping paper and opens the large box. All four girls gasp and crowd around the beautifully done costume.

They set it to the side and suddenly everyone is in a flurry of hair a makeup, they pull on their costumes and gather their things before heading down to breakfast.

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The four walk to the great hall, turning eyes the whole way there, though they are unsure if it is because they look so good or because of their unconventional outfits for breakfast. As they get closer to the Slytherin table they can see Draco and Theo coughing as Blaise pats them on the back.

Ari links her arm with Lily's and they strike a pose. "Hello boys, how do we look?" Blaise is the only one capable of speaking.

"You all look like little angles, and if I were less cultured it is what I would assume. A light and dark angle, but I recognize a black and white swan when I see them."

Ari and Lily's Costumes (Hair and Makeup too):

They laugh, glad he can tell their costume. As the time for all third years and above to head off for Hogsmeade Lily waves goodbye as all her friends leave. She can see Harry's friends go but doesn't see Harry, waving it off she goes about her day. She leaves the library after finishing a charms essay when she sees Harry walking down the hall.

As they greet each other Harry invites her to go visit Lupin with him, she agrees and they make their way, discussing their days so far. Harry wishes her a very happy birthday and compliments her Halloween costume that she's been wearing all day.

"Thank you, my only issue is that it isn't very practical and this stuff on my face feels kind of funny. Harry nods even though he doesn't understand but he can sympathise.

Arriving at Lupin's office they are surprised to see he's set out tea.

Lupin rises on their appearance, a happy smile gracing his features. "Ah Lily, what a wonderful surprise, happy birthday."

She laughs, "Thank you, professor."

They sit down and Lupin makes her tea as well, "Ah, before we get started I have something for you, a birthday present." Lupin pulls out a simple rectangular package, wrapped in brown paper. "I hope you like it."

Lily opens the box to see a framed photo of Remus, Sirius, James, and Lily standing/sitting around a couch with and young Harry in Lily's arms and a small baby with a tuft of red hair help in James'.

Lily and Harry tear up seeing it, Lily hugs the picture thanking the man.

Harry begins to inquire about Sirius in the picture before Lupin quickly changes the subject and begins their lessons.

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Reaching their room, Lily put away all of the wonderful presents she'd gotten that day and the cards. She had a wonderful day full of joy and celebration, after two happy birthday songs and cupcakes at the feast she was just so grateful to all of her amazing friends.

Astoria helps free her from her tutu and she gets a shower. Once her pajamas are on she is trying to fight her hair into being cooperative, but it just refuses. Near tears from pain and frustration, she re-enters her dorm room to ask for help where she sees all of her roommates fast asleep. Unwilling to wake them up Lily walks down to the common room to see if anyone can help her. It seems the only one left awake is Draco as he sits, still in his Little Prince costume, watching the fire. Once he hears her enter he turns to see Lily with a large, wet, rat's nest on the side of her head.

Draco looks at her with pity, "Oh angle, what did you do?"

Lily walks over, holding out her comb. "Draco I can't get it out, will you help me?" He chuckles in sympathy, grabbing the wide toothcomb.

"Of course, though grab that Dracula book and I will read it to you while I brush." His reasoning for using the Dracula book is purely selfish as he remembers the times they would read it together the year before, he had waited months to find out what happened next but was unwilling to read it without her. As she sits at his feet, leaning back against the couch, Draco uses the wandless magic he had been studying over the summer to levitate the book so he can see.

Gently holding onto a bit of her hair he begins to brush and read, "Let all be put down exactly. Van Helsing and I arrived at Gillingham at eight o'clock. It was a lovely morning. The bright sunshine and all the fresh feeling of early autumn seemed like the completion of nature's annual work. The leaves were turning to all kinds of beautiful colours but had not yet begun to drop from the trees. When we entered we met Mrs Westenra coming out of the morning room. She is always an early riser. She greeted us warmly and said, "You will be glad to know that Lucy is better. The dear child is still asleep. I looked into her room and saw her, but did not go in, lest I should disturb her." The Professor smiled, and looked quite jubilant." Making his way through her hair, Draco can't help but remember the last time they got to do something this fun, just the two of them. By the time Draco finishes her hair it is very late and they've read through to chapter fifteen. Lily is half asleep, occasionally humming to acknowledge the fact that Draco is still talking. Deciding that that is enough reading for the night Draco runs a hair through her smoothed-out hair before he stands from the sofa. Getting up he walks around in front of her before reaching down and gathering her from the floor before taking her to her room. He tucks her into bed, watching as Snuffles crawls out from under her bed and lays down beside her.

Draco gives Snuffles a scratch on the head, "Watch her well." He says before leaving for his dorm. Crawling into bed he is very content and comfortable, letting his worries for the day wash away. He drifts off into sleep. Happy with the way things have turned out.

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Draco wakes up to being shaken by Blaise, looking around he sees his dormmates getting up and grabbing blankets and pillows and such, everyone very drowsy. "Wha's goin' on?" He drones, hair sticking up oddly.

Blaise grabs his arm and helps him up. "I'm not sure yet, Professor Snape just said to grab some blankets and our pillows." They do as their told and go down to the common room where it seems all of Slytherin house is waiting.

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Lily crawls out of bed after being instructed to grab her things, she grabs her pillow, blankets, and Claude's bed. All of the girls are rushing, grabbing small bags and putting different things such as books or hair supplies in them, Lily slips on her slippers before putting the Dracula book from her side table into Grace's bag.

They walk to the common room where everyone is and Lily realizes she hasn't seen Snuffles since she's woken up, assuming he is still under her bed she leaves him, knowing he can handle himself. Claude rolls around in his bed, refusing to get up. Not worrying about him she and the girls walk over to Draco and his friends. They wait as Professor Snape claps to get everyone's attention.

Severus stands tall and addresses his house, "Listen up, I do not want anyone to panic, but Sireous Black has been spotted inside Hogwarts. He was seen by the portrait of the Fat Lady, it appears he was trying to get into Gryffindor house. I am going to be blunt with you all, we do not know how he has gotten in or where he is now, but rest assured we are looking for him as we speak. In the meantime, we will have everyone sleep in the Great Hall where we will be more equipt to protect you all. You will not wander on your own, you are in danger but we will do the best we can to ensure that you will all stay safe. I would rather die than let anything happen to any one of you. I give you my word. Now, let us get going, does anyone need to grab anything else?" A few people raise their hands and the children wait in the common room for them to return. It isn't long before they walk together to the great hall where they are given sleeping bags and directed towards the rest of the room. "Pick a spot near someone you don't mind being close to."

Lily and Draco's crews huddle together near each other, Cedric also walks over, discussing everything that has happened with them. As they all set up their sleeping bags, Lily back leans on Draco so that she can see the pages he is reading off of. As he reads he begins to notice more than just Lily paying attention, Cedric and their crew listen to him read but more than that. He can see younger students of different houses leaning in to listen, before he knows it, he is surrounded by a large group of first-year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, even a few Gryffindors. His regular Slytherin young already listening attentively. He reads chapter seventeen of Dracula before the professors begin to tell them all to go to sleep. As the students groan and complain, a few beg Professor McGonagall to let them read some more because Draco's voice is just so soothing. She agrees on the condition that they read something besides Dracula, which has all of the students on the edge of their spots on the floor. They agree and a few Ravenclaws bring different books over for him to choose from. Draco picks The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a book he remembers his parents taking turns reading to him in his childhood. As he reads the fairy tales he watches as one by one the children fall asleep. As the last of them drift off he places the book aside, he curls up into his and Lily's combined sleeping bag, pillows and blankets shared between them and he holds her to his chest as he joins them in dreamland. Unaware that the very man they fear most has entered the hall and is curled up, head resting on their sides.