[013] birthday girl

                                                                        The special day had finally arrived.

                                                                        Camille and Victoire had officially turned eighteen and it was to be the final celebration before everyone went off to winter break. They'd hold the event at the Three Broomsticks Inn, celebrating the twins in what would be the most special occasion of their life. 

                                                                         And yet, it was anything but.

                                                                         Victoire was still at odds with Lily, her anger and sorrow causing her to shut out her very own sister. And Camille was carrying the burden of Tom's secret. No longer was she innocent and naive to the darkness of the world. Camille was enveloped in it now and there was no way for her to escape. However, she was unsure as to whether or not she really wanted to. Despite everything she knew about Tom, she still loved him. Or rather... she loved the idea of him.

                                                                         Still, Camille was convinced that her love would be more than enough to pull Tom out of the darkness and save him. It had to.

                                                                         The girl was showered with gifts kept by her bed, unlike her sister who had only received a couple of presents. But Victoire hardly cared about the amount of presents she had gotten, still heartbroken over the fact that the love of her life was set to marry someone else. All Victoire wanted to do was stay in her dorm all day, even though this was supposed to be one of the best days in her life.

                                                                         And so, being the good sister that she was, Camille was determined to see to it that Victoire went with her to the party at the Three Broomsticks.

                                                                        "Victoire, you can't just not show up. It's supposed to be our birthday party. We've never celebrated a birthday party separately before," Camille pleaded, climbing into bed with Victoire. Her hair was curled to perfection, framing her face like a halo, and she wore another pretty dress in preparation for the event being prepared in her (and Victoire's) honor. An honor she desperately wanted her sister to participate in. "And this year will not be the first."

                                                                        "I can be there in spirit. Just let me be," Victoire groaned.

                                                                         "I know that you're upset and I completely understand -," Camille began to say.

                                                                         "No, you don't understand. You've never been in love, you've only felt infatuation and obsession with the boys you've been with. You engage in flings that never last but none of it can be constituted as a real relationship. Just nonsense that ends in disaster. Don't you dare claim to understand what Lily and I have," Victoire snapped.

                                                                           Camille quickly recoils, almost as though she had been slapped in the face. Perhaps that would've been far less painful than what Victoire had actually told her. Victoire had critiqued Camille for her romantic choices in the past but she had never been as harsh as this before.

                                                                           A warm flicker of anger burns within Camille as her eyes narrow and she gets up from the bed, staring down at Victoire. "Had."

                                                                            Victoire falters. "What?"

                                                                            "Did I stutter? I said had. What you and Lily had. Last time I remembered, she was off to go and marry Elijah. You can be upset at Elijah and Lily too but you shouldn't take it out on me just because she isn't here anymore," Camille huffed, folding her arms across her chest. "If you want to stay here and sulk, fine. But I won't let you ruin my birthday. Maybe it's better off if you stay here."

                                                                            "Fine, I will. Go off with your snotty friends and boyfriend. I don't care," Victoire dismissed her, curling up into a ball as she laid on her bed.

                                                                              In the heat of her anger, Camille didn't really care about Victoire's feelings. She had tried so hard to comfort Victoire and make her feel better, only for Victoire to turn on her at every turn. Usually, Camille could take it. But when it came to a day as special as this one, Camille just wanted to be happy.

                                                                              She already had enough on her plate without Victoire adding her own problems to it. And so, Camille left the dorm without second thought so she could go to her party.

( 👱‍♀️💘🍒 )

                                                                         Camille was all smiles as she stood in front of her birthday cake, all eighteen candles illuminating the beautiful pink cake. She had quickly forgotten about her squabble with Victoire, now surrounded by her amazing boyfriend and friends there to celebrate her at the Three Broomsticks. For a moment, she could pretend that everything else was completely normal. That her life was perfect and there was nothing possibly wrong.

                                                                           If she tried, she could pretend that she was just as innocent and pure as she had been at the beginning of the year.

                                                                          The usually crowded inn was even more crowded, everyone there to support and celebrate Hogwarts' very own sweetheart. The air was warm and electric and everything appeared magical even in the golden lighting. Scents of sugary sweet frosting and vanilla cake along with butterbeer filled the air, faint whispers and glasses clinking being the only sounds that could be heard in that moment as they waited for Camille to blow out all eighteen candles.

                                                                         "Come on, blow out the candles!" Eleanor exclaimed, earning some chuckles from the crowd.

                                                                           Even Camille cracked an amused smile at that. 

                                                                         "She's coming up with her wish, silly," Ophelia replied.

                                                                         "No need, I already have everything that I wish for," Camille explained with a smile, her eyes locking on Tom who'd smile back at her.

                                                                         "Then hurry up and blow out the candles! The suspense is killing me," Ophelia teased which earned some more laughter from the crowd and Camille's smile widened out of amusement.

                                                                           Eventually, the blonde finally manages to do just that and the entire room cheers by the time the last candle was blown out. They were happy for Camille overall but they were definitely more happy to get some cake. Camille allowed them to go ahead and take their slices, all while she walked away from the scene.

                                                                           As much as Camille wanted to indulge in the sweet treat, she didn't want to risk gaining any weight. Camille had been so good for so long and she wanted to keep it that way. Camille knew she'd be going home soon and she didn't want to earn her mother's ire by gaining a couple more pounds than usual. Besides, Camille didn't even feel that hungry to begin with.

                                                                           However, it wouldn't be long before Camille was surrounded by her friends - all of them eager to hang around the birthday girl.

                                                                         "Oh, you look absolutely stunning in your gown," Adelaide gushed, her gaze filled with both awe and envy.

                                                                         "Thank you," Camille responded with a smile.

                                                                         "And that necklace... you have to tell me where you got it from," Adelaide added.

                                                                            Camille's smile grows. "Oh, it's from Tom. He managed to get it for me. Isn't it beautiful?"

                                                                          "It's gorgeous. Now why won't Orion get me something like that?" Walburga sighed.

                                                                         "Oh, Walburga... it's not your fault that your husband-to-be is about as tender and romantic as a cactus," Ophelia teased, earning a brief yet sharp look from Walburga herself.

                                                                         "Where's Victoire? Isn't she supposed to be here too? This is just as much her birthday as it is yours," Eleanor questioned.

                                                                         "She simply wasn't feeling well. That reminds me though... I should bring some cake back for her. She'd be mad at me if I didn't bring it," Camille vaguely responded, shaking her head. She couldn't tell the truth - seeing as it was entirely Victoire's business.

                                                                         And she already knew that they didn't really care for Victoire in the first place.

                                                                         "Surprise, surprise. Violet didn't show up either. That's probably for the better though, since I would've put a hex on her if she even dared to walk throuh the doors," Ophelia stated.

                                                                         "I would've happily joined you," Camille agreed, earning some chuckles and surprised expressions from the other girls.

                                                                         "Ooh, where's the old Camille that couldn't harm a fly?" Walburga smirks, head canted to the side.

                                                                         "Long gone. Now I'm eighteen and this is a new, slightly bolder Camille," the birthday girl answers with a smile.

                                                                         "I hope she sticks around more often," Adelaide nods, her tone filled with genuine approval.

                                                                         "Butterbeer, anyone?" Louis remarked as he approached the group of girls while carrying a tray topped with several butterbeers.

                                                                         "Don't mind if I do," Ophelia agrees, taking one for herself.

                                                                         "No thank you," Camille turns him down with a shake of her head.

                                                                         "Come on, one won't hurt. And besides, I added a little special... kick to it," Louis adds with a wink.

                                                                         "It's your birthday, Milly. You're supposed to be bold right now. So go on," Ophelia insisted, lightly nudging Camille.

                                                                        "Fine," Camille sighs, grabbing the pint which made everyone else cheer.

                                                                        "Happy birthday, Camille," Louis smiles at her before walking off, going to serve more of his special butterbeer to the other guests.

                                                                        "Thank you," Camille softly responded.

                                                                          She decides to take a sip, gagging at the strong taste. It was definitely much stronger than she had anticipated, nothing like the butterbeer she remembered drinking. But with the other girls goading her on, Camille ended up finishing it. She had never thought highly of alcohol, drinking little bits here and there when she was sure she could handle it.

                                                                           But tonight would prove to be an exception.

                                                                           Camille felt like she was floating once the alcohol managed to kick in, her body warm and her mind seemingly empty. Camille didn't have to worry about her sister or all of the bad thoughts in her mind. She didn't even have to remember all of Tom's dark truths which he had dumped onto her shoulders suddenly.

                                                                          If Camille was being honest, she felt like she was flying.

                                                                         Camille now found herself at the center of the room, dancing along to the faint tune floating through the air. She was dancing with a couple others and yet she still managed to be the center of attention. Camille not only managed to capture your attention but she held it with ease, mystifying many.

                                                                           Including Tom himself.

                                                                         "What is going on with her?" Abraxas chuckled, folding his arms across his chest as he regarded his dancing, giggling cousin with amusement.

                                                                          Tom shrugs. "I haven't the slightest clue. But she still managed to garner quite the audience regardless."

                                                                           Sure enough, she had peopl watching and even cheering her on as she danced and twirled around - her movements fluid and light.

                                                                        "I'm incredibly lucky, Abraxas. Your cousin is the final piece of the puzzle. My one-way ticket to securing my place in power," Tom remarked. Not with his magic, of course, but with his social status in society.

                                                                          If he were to be with her, he'd have more money and poweer than even he knew what to do with it. Tom knew it was exactly what he deserved, seeing as he knew he was destined for great things. The blood flowing through his veins told him as much.

                                                                        "She really loves you a lot. She thinks the world of you," Abraxas noted, immediately regretting it when Tom turned to look at him. For a moment, his expression is unreadable but then... a smirk broke out onto his face.

                                                                        "I know. You told me she was naive but I didn't think it'd go so far. I could kill in front of her and she'd still find a way to forgive me. It's wonderful," Tom responded.

                                                                        Abraxas couldn't help but feel a pinch of guilt. As much as he had tried to keep Camille away from Tom, he managed to find his way to her regardless.

                                                                      "Don't worry, Abraxas. I won't do anything to Camille. She's more useful to me alive than dead, remember?" Tom stated, reading Abraxas' thoughts in an instant.

                                                                       "Right, I know that," Abraxas quickly nodded with a small, forced smile.

                                                                      "Cheer up, won't you? It's supposed to be a special occasion today," Tom stated, patting Abraxas a little too harshly on the shoulder before he walked towards Camille.

                                                                       She instantly jumped into his arms, forcing him to join her in her dance. With big smiles on their faces, the two of them would dance together as the crowd cheered them on. To most, it looked like a romantic dance between the happiest couple on Hogwarts.

                                                                      But Abraxas knew the truth. Their story wasn't one filled with love and romance. It was of destruction and corruption, all in the name of seeking power and fortune. And poor Camille was at the center of it all.

( 👱‍♀️💘🍒 )

word count: 2164
notes: sorry for the long wait but i hope this revised chapter made up for it!!