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"GOOD MORNING LILY. did you sleep well?", draco asked as he gently nudged the half awake girl who was still snuggled up in her blankets.

"mm...yeah...is breakfast already ready?", lily yawned as she sat up on her bed, with her black locks sticking out from every which way.

"of course, since today's a special day after all", draco reminded as he pulled out a black dress with ladybug prints on it.

lily's head plopped to the side as she confusingly wondered what day it could be.

christmas had just pass so perhaps valentine's day or new years?

"do you still not remember what day it is?", draco questioned, almost in disbelief at how aloof the girl seemed.

lily scratched her head as she tried to remotely remember what day of the week it even was. it truly wasn't her fault that all her days seemed to mush together, as the girl had the same boring routine everyday.

breakfast. practice. lunch. practice. dinner. sleep.

it was no wonder that the girl didn't know what day it was. though she did get way better at charms and transfigurations.

"it's your birthday, you dimwit", draco scoffed, brushing through lily's hair with a comb as he placed two ladybug clips on both sides of her hair.

"OH!! RIGHT RIGHT RIGHT!! I totally forgot", lily giggled.

"I can tell", draco snorted, making lily pout.

"okay okay, I'm sorry! now go out so I can changeeee", lily said as she pushed draco out her room with all her might.

draco leaned against the wall as he impatiently waited for little lily to change into her custom made dress that his mother had bought for her.

"okay!! I'm readyyy!", lily cheered as she spun around for draco to see.

"how do I look?", lily smiled.

"pretty".

"aw—"

"pretty ugly", draco grinned, making lily huff.

"I'm just kidding!! come back", draco chuckled as he chased after the little girl that was already halfway down the stairs.

"no!! I'm gonna tell aunt cissy that you're bullying me!", lily yelled as she tried to hurry downstairs quicker.

"how dare you! I'll have you know mother loves me more", draco said as he nearly missed lily by the tip of his fingertips.

"YOUR FATHER'S GONNA HEAR ABOUT THIS!", lily screamed, grabbing the attention of all three adults who were already seated at the dining table.

"YOU DARE USE MY OWN LINE AGAINST ME—"

"what in merlin is going on?", narcissa questioned as lily hastily ran into the lap of the woman.

"draco called me ugly", lily fake whined, making draco huff from running so early in the morning, and in a suit.

"no I didn't! I—"

"draco, you know not to spite her", narcissa reprimanded, making draco gasp in disbelief as lily flashed the boy a devious grin.

"but mother, I—"

"sit down now. breakfast is starting", narcissa interrupted as lily quickly sat beside narcissa, with draco on the other side of her, shooting the little girl a playful glare.

"anyways, the dark lord will be joining us for dinner tonight, along with the rest of the death eaters", lucius mentioned, making lily excited that her papa was going to show up.

"do I still have lessons today?", lily asked.

"of course—"

"no", narcissa interrupted, making bellatrix stare at her sister.

"but cissy! today was supposed to be the best part! we were going to learn about the three unforgivable curses. and I was going personally show her just how amazing they can all be!", bellatrix complained.

"bella, it's the girl's birthday. one day off won't kill her", narcissa said.

bellatrix sighed in defeat.

"fine", the woman huffed, making lily silently pump her fist under the table.

draco watched the whole interaction as he let out a small puff of air, finding it funny how the girl was glad that she didn't have to take lessons from his aunt bellatrix.

"merlin's beard. how are you still such a messy eater after I've taught you the proper way to eat?", draco commented as he took a napkin and wiped the girl's mouth.

"ah yes. I'm sorry that I accidentally got yogurt on my chin", lily sarcastically retorted.

"where did you learn to sass me back like that?", draco asked, making narcissa slightly smile.

"I learn from the best", lily smiled at draco, making the boy roll his eyes.

"of course", he muttered.

//❁//

voldemort sat on one end of the table while lily sat on the other end.

snape was on lily's right side while draco on was her left. bellatrix of course was by the lord's right side while the rest of the table filled with death eaters lily did not know of nor cared for.

"happy eighth birthday ms. lily. I've brought you the greatest gift of all. this is one of the heirlooms that was passed down by the nott family", theodore nott smiled, handing the box to little lily.

lily hastily opened the box, revealing a diadem that sparkled even under the dim light produced by the chandeliers.

"wow!! are you sure I can have it? it looks quite expensive", lily asked, to which the man just chuckled.

"of course of course! after all, your father and I were close friends back in—"

nott stopped as voldemort gave the man a threatening glare.

another death eater scoffed.

"ms. lily, to celebrate the day that you were born, I offer you this intricate watch that not only tells time, but can alert the person you desire where your location is", mulciber junior said.

lily thanked the man as the other death eaters started presenting lily with more and more expensive presents, as they all wanted to prove their loyalty to the dark lord and rank higher than each other.

so what better way than to get on the good side of little lily? after all, a tiara was nothing compared to the power and position they were to receive after voldemort dominated the wizarding and eventually muggle world.

"and what is it that you'll be presenting lily with today, severus?", voldemort asked, clearly pleased with the presents so far.

majority of the death eaters were all purebloods that came from a wealthy background, so it was no surprise that they gave away such expensive presents.

but severus on the other hand, lacked quite a bit in wealth.

"my present certainly isn't as flashy as the others, but...I do believe she'll be very entertained", snape answered as he waved his wand in the air.

without another moment, the room instantly turned dark, with little critters flying around.

"what in merlin is this?!", a death eater disgustingly scowled.

"fireflies", lily breathed out, truly amazed at how simplistic yet beautiful these creatures were.

they were like polka-dots against a black canvas, lighting up by themselves while chittering their own tunes.

a few whispered while some snorted at how anticlimactic this all was.

then with another wave of snape's wand, the fireflies had lined up in a particular order, forming letters.

"happy 8th birthday", lily read out.

"thank you papa", the little girl whispered as she went to go hug snape.

as the lights turned back on, the girl was already back in her seat, giddily swinging her legs.

"how'd you get the fireflies to do what you wanted?", lily asked, as the rest just huffed at how simple-minded the girl was.

"the imperious curse", snape answered.

voldemort clapped.

"very well. a simple gift yet educational. quite impressive, don't you all think?", voldemort asked, with death eaters obviously nodding in agreement.

"anyways, now that you've received all your presents, it's time for the cake isn't it?", voldemort asked, clearly in a great mood since he had retrieved the elder wand from dumbledore's grave.

lily nodded as peter pettigrew had presented the girl with a ladybug designed cake.

eight candles burned while all the death eaters coughed in awkwardness, clearly not wanting to sing happy birthday to a eight year-old girl.

lily just mentally hummed the birthday song to herself as she made a wish.

'I wish for all of this to end soon'.

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