❁❁❁

Serena was absolutely beaming when she returned to the Gryffindor common room in the evening. She had one of the best birthdays, and not even the fact that she'll be drowning in homework the next few weeks could dampen her mood.

"Oi, what have you got there?" Iyla asked from where she was sitting with Harry and Ron, pointing at the bag Serena was carrying.

Ron perked up. "Any sweets, maybe?"

"As if she'd give anything to you before her own sister," Iyla looked up at Serena with a sweet smile. "Right, Rena?"

Serena strode over to the three, digging through her gift bag. "Yea, I've gotten quite a few chocolate frogs. One for you, Harry. And here you go, Ron."

The two boys grinned and thanked her, while Iyla flicked her sister's arm. "How come you gave it to them and not me?"

"Maybe because she likes us better." Ron said.

"Oh, actually" - Iyla smiled triumphantly - "Give one to Hermione, will you, Iyla? Where is she, anyway?" The youngest Mallard snatched the chocolate frog from Serena with a glare.

"Probably at the library, per usual." Harry said after he'd taken another bit from the frog.

Serena shook her head. "That girl is just like Ramona, I swear. So, what are you lot working on?"

"Divination," Ron said as he scribbled something on his paper. "Next Monday, I am likely to develop a cough, owing to the unlucky conjunction of Mars and Jupiter."

"And I'll sprain my ankle from tripping down the stairs in two days, because Venus is in its twelfth house." Iyla said. "You know Trelawney - just put in loads of misery, she'll lap it up."

Serena peered down at their predictions, pointing at a blank spot on Harry's chart. "Why don't you get stabbed in the back by someone you thought was a friend?"

"Nice one," Harry nodded in approval, copying down her answer.

Serena was going to list more tragic misfortunes they could use when she caught sight of Fred and George sitting in the corner. Their heads were together, quills in hand, hunched over a single parchment. Serena hardly ever saw the twins working silently away from everyone, as they loved to be in center of attention. The girl knew it had nothing to do with Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, the joke shop they've always wanted to open. If it was, then Lee Jordan would most definitely had been working on it with them. There was something secretive in the way they quietly conversed over the parchment, and Serena thought they were going over ways to enter the Triwizard Tournament again. But they practically announced it to everyone they were going to try to get it, so it had to have been something else. And Serena was going to find out.

"Well, good luck with that. I'll see you lot later." With a smile, Serena tossed her sister a chocolate frog - much to Iyla's delight - before striding over to the twins at the opposite side of the common room. "Alright, I know you two aren't doing homework, so I hope you're discussing ways to turn my hair back to brown." She said, pointing at her flaming red locks.

They didn't reply, but simply yanked Serena into the seat beside them. Before the girl could ask another question, the twins shared a glance and began talking, Fred going first with George explaining second.

"Bagman owes us money-"

"It was at the World Cup, we made a bet with Ludo Bagman, the commentator, about the outcome of the game-"

"How Ireland would win, but Krum would get the Snitch-"

"We gave him our entire savings, even a fake wand-"

"And he paid us with leprechaun gold. By next morning, it had gone!"

"It was probably a mistake, so we're writing him a letter asking for our money back." George finished.

Serena's ring turned a bright red that match her hair. "That was no mistake! You've been swindled!"

"Exactly why we're writing him. We're getting out money back." Fred said as he grabbed the parchment and added a sentence to the paragraph already written.

George read what Fred had written before shaking his head, scratching the sentence out with his quill. "No - that sounds like we're accusing him. Got to be careful. . ."

Serena rolled her eyes. "But you are accusing him. Because he stole from you!"

But George didn't answer as he looked over Serena's shoulder, smiling at someone behind them. "Harry's watching us. Let's just finish this tomorrow."

Fred and Serena nodded, the twins rolling up their parchment while the girl picked up her bag. Saying goodnight to no one in particular, Serena followed Fred and George up the boys dormitory, the twins unfazed by the girl in their room since she comes by often.

George opened the drawer of his nightstand beside his bed and stuffed the letter in before turning to Serena. "Oh I almost forgot," he said as he pulled out a box of cauldron cakes. "Here's your birthday present! And don't worry, the red colour will be gone by morning."

"Thanks, Georgie!" Serena said, giving him a quick hug.

George turned to his brother, a light smirk playing on his lips. "Freddie, why don't you give the birthday girl her present?"

Serena didn't know why Fred turned slightly pink, glaring at George. In a swift motion, he took out a box from his desk, grabbed Serena's hand, and pulled her out of the room. They stood in the hallway, Fred nervously rubbing the back of his neck as he pushed the box into her hands. "Er, well... here you go."

The girl excitedly opened the box, which revealed a golden bracelet with a single Gryffindor house charm.

"Well, I know you accidentally broke the bracelet I gave you before so... I though I'd get you another."

Serena grimaced. "I still feel horrible about that. I've had it since second year and snapped it."

"I was sorta expecting it, you break everything." Fred chuckled as he took her hand, sliding the gold bracelet onto her wrist.

Her heart jumped in her chest at the action. "I love it," Serena said, and with a new-found confidence, she took a step forward before wrapping her arms around his neck. "Thank you, Fred Weasley."

Fred hesitantly hugged her back, immediately missing her warmth when she pulled away. "You're welcome, Serena Mallard."

Serena didn't notice her ring turn pink in her giddy excitement as she quickly went back inside their dorm to get her gift bag, bidding the twins goodnight as she hurried to her own dormitory.

Rushing into the room, she saw Angelina and Alicia standing by the window, a large barn owl perched on the windowsill.

"Hey, redhead. You've got a package." Alicia said, pointing at Serena's family owl.

The girl smiled as she walked towards the window, petting the owl's brown and white fur. "Hey Ezra, this must be from Mum, right?"

The owl hooted, and once Serena plucked the small package and letter from his strong talon, Ezra soared off into the night. Angelina and Alicia sat on Serena's bed, reading over her shoulder as she opened the letter.

~~~
My dearest Serena,

Happy birthday, sweetheart! They say the number thirteen is unlucky, and to be born on the thirteenth of October, of all days and months, is a misfortune that'll bring great tragedy. I say they're all crazy. Because all I see in your future is happiness.

I'm so proud of the strong, beautiful, and determined girl I've watched you become. Your father and I love you and Iyla so much. He and your aunt wanted to be here to see the day the two of you became of age. And they are. In our hearts, darling. And I know you don't like reading much so I'll end by saying I hope you like it!

~~~

Serena slowly folded the letter back up. She didn't know why, but she felt like she was going to cry. She was going to own something of her father's. Something of her aunt's. They kept whatever was in that box for her.

"Go on," Angelina said softly. "Open it."

With a nod, Serena opened the pale blue box, eyes widened at what was inside.

A beautiful locket was tucked safely in the box. Carefully lifting the golden chain, Serena gently placed the heart-shaped and slightly rusted locket in her hand. In the middle was a gleaming, crystalline stone, a soft yet powerful red seeming sparkling from a light within it. As if protecting the gem, metal feathers delicately curled around the small locket, resembling wings. The letter M was elegantly carved on the back of the locket.

"That's so pretty!" Alicia squealed.

Angelina took the locket in her hand. "I think there's something inside," she said, opening the locket open with a quiet pop.

Two small pieces of paper fell into Angelina's lap, but Serena was more interested in the picture inside. There stood her mother, father, and aunt all smiling up at Serena. A baby was cradled in Esmae Mallard's arms, and Serena knew it was young Iyla. Another little girl was on Elliot's back, untamed curls mixing in with his straight brown hair, tiny arms wrapped tight around his neck.

"Oh my... I haven't seen this photo is forever." Serena said. A single tear fell down her cheek when Alicia wrapped a comforting arm around the girl.

Angelina picked up the slightly the yellowed papers that had fell, handing it to Serena with an encouraging smile. The girl smiled back before unfolding them.

~~~

My dearest Serena,

By the time you see this, you must have already turned seventeen. And as I watch you running around my office right now, a few weeks shy from five, I can already imagine the beautiful and fierce woman I know you'll become.

In case you're wondering why I am writing this in a letter, Maisie told me too, just in case I am not there to see you on your birthday. But even if I'm not, my spirit always will be. I don't want you to forget that.

I hope you like the locket. It's a family heirloom, passed down to the first born. The red symbolises our Gryffindor bravery and selflessness, and the wings are a reminder of our name, our background, our story.

Happy birthday, my sweet Serena.

My fire in the cold night. My light in the dark.

———————

Heya, Serena! Aunt Esmae here! Elliott was going to end up writing a ten page essay if I didn't step in. Pretty cool locket, huh? Apparently it was passed down through us Mallards for generations, but seems a little too polished for that. I think our Mum (your grandmother) got it from the cheap jewellery store down the corner. Anyhoo, I can't wait to see you and baby Iyla grow up so I can teach you all the fun passageways out of Hogwarts! I've never been too fond of essay writing so I'll wrap up by saying hope you have a wonderful birthday! We all love you and Iyla!

P.S. If Iyla gets jealous you've gotten the locket and she didn't, tell her she'll get her own family heirloom soon enough. Staring with me, the one and only Esmae Mallard!

~~~

If Serena wasn't crying before, she certainly was now. And even as Angelina and Alicia hugged her and wiped her tears away, she knew deep down that they weren't of sadness, but of joy. The soft blue of her ring confirmed it.

❁❁❁

Author's note:

Hi, lovelies! Okay, I know this book is taking quite some time to get to the part everyone's been watching for, but I promise it'll start with the next chapter :)

And oh my gosh we've reached 1k reads! ONE THOUSAND READS!! I'm gonna cry I love y'all so much!! Thank you! 😭😭

Also In case you all were wondering what the locket looks like because I suck at descriptions>>>

Until next time, love

~Lena